- Enrollment
- 1,685
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carlsbad, NM
Desert Willow Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Desert Willow Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 65/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 350030001118
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 83
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Willow Elementary earns 65/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Carlsbad · Resource Index
- 65
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 28.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Willow Elementary has class sizes near the New Mexico median. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Willow Elementary ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Carlsbad, NM.
School address
District: Carlsbad Municipal Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350030001118 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+33 students YoY
Desert Willow Elementary held near 820 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+33 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 46.9 → 54.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+33 students YoY 350030001118 · Carlsbad, NM Elementary · MID · TRAD
667 enr · 14.5:1 · 28.2% lunch · RII 65
Nearest enrollment peer: Carlsbad High (1,685 students)
Desert Willow Elementary held near 820 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+33 headcount). Teacher FTE added 46.9 → 54.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Desert Willow Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Carlsbad High
Carlsbad High
1,685 students
- Carlsbad Inter
Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus
908 students
- Carlsbad Sixth
Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus
740 students
- Cottonwood Ele
Cottonwood Elementary
684 students
- This school 667
Desert Willow Elementary
667 students
- Ocotillo Eleme 621
Ocotillo Elementary
621 students
What this shows Desert Willow Elementary reports 667 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Willow Elementary compares
Desert Willow Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.5:1 | ▲ 4% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.2% | ▼ 65% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 667 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
667
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 62% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
6.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,304
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 74.2%
White 22.3%
Two or More 1.0%
African American 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 74.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.9, Desert Willow Elementary is about as mixed as the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carlsbad Municipal Schools reports $13,304 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Willow Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cottonwood Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ocotillo Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Willow Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 908
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 740
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 684
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 621
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~667 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Willow Elementary
How many students attend Desert Willow Elementary?
Desert Willow Elementary has 667 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carlsbad, NM. CCD year-over-year: 787 (2022-23) → 820 (2023-24), nearly flat (+33).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Willow Elementary is 14.5:1, which is 4% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Willow Elementary?
28.2% of students at Desert Willow Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Willow Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Desert Willow Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 74.2% of enrollment, in Carlsbad, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Willow Elementary?
Desert Willow Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 65/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Willow Elementary rank among elementary schools in Carlsbad?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Willow Elementary ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Carlsbad, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Carlsbad on the city page.
What other schools are in Carlsbad Municipal Schools?
Besides Desert Willow Elementary, Carlsbad Municipal Schools also operates Carlsbad High (1,685 students), Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus (908 students), and Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus (740 students). See the Carlsbad Municipal Schools district page for the complete list.