Enrollment
667
New Mexico · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.5:1
vs 14:1 New Mexico avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.2%
vs 80.8% New Mexico avg
-65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Willow Elementary compares with New Mexico and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Willow Elementary
Desert Willow Elementary is a large elementary school in Carlsbad, New Mexico, enrolling 667 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.5:1 puts it in the larger third of New Mexico schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 28.2% free-meal eligibility runs 65% below the New Mexico average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in New Mexico, bigger than 90% of state schools at 667 students.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 95% of the 867 New Mexico schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 51 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Mexico schools statewide, it ranks #2, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (74%) and White (22%) (diversity index 40/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.9% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Carlsbad Municipal Schools spends $10,509 per pupil, 37% below the New Mexico average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Carlsbad Municipal Schools also operates Carlsbad High (1,685 students) and Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus (908 students) alongside Desert Willow Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Desert Willow Elementary compares
Desert Willow Elementary on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$10,509
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $16,652
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Carlsbad Municipal Schools, which includes Desert Willow Elementary.
$10,509
Per student
-37%
vs New Mexico
Avg $16,652
-37%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 50.9%
State 41.9%
Federal 7.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 1,685
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Mexico, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~667 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Willow Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Desert Willow Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Carlsbad Municipal Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, attendance rates. 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.
Is Desert Willow Elementary a good school?
Desert Willow Elementary earns 65/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.