- Enrollment
- 1,685
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Carlsbad, NM
Hillcrest Preschool
Federal NCES profile for Hillcrest Preschool, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 350030001148
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillcrest Preschool earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of New Mexico schools.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Carlsbad · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.6:1
- large classes for New Mexico
- 17.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillcrest Preschool has class sizes larger than 90% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillcrest Preschool ranks #2 of 4 schools in Carlsbad, NM.
School address
District: Carlsbad Municipal Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350030001148 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+63 students YoY
Hillcrest Preschool grew from 257 students in 2022-23 to 320 in 2023-24 (+24.5%).
Teacher FTE added 17.6 → 20.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+63 students YoY 350030001148 · Carlsbad, NM Other · SMALL · TRAD
316 enr · 18.6:1 · 17.1% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Carlsbad High (1,685 students)
Hillcrest Preschool grew from 257 students in 2022-23 to 320 in 2023-24 (+24.5%). Teacher FTE added 17.6 → 20.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Hillcrest Preschool 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
- Desert Willow 667
Desert Willow Elementary
667 students
- This school 316
Hillcrest Preschool
316 students
What this shows Hillcrest Preschool reports 316 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hillcrest Preschool compares
Hillcrest Preschool is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 33% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.1% | ▼ 79% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 316 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
316
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
17.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 79% 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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 90% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
6.0%
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
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 66.8%
White 30.4%
Asian 1.3%
African American 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 66.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.1, Hillcrest Preschool is more mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
District finance for Carlsbad Municipal Schools reports $13,304 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hillcrest Preschool 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 | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cottonwood Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desert Willow Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillcrest Preschool'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
- 667
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
Nationwide other 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 (~316 students)
Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest Preschool
How many students attend Hillcrest Preschool?
Hillcrest Preschool has 316 students enrolled. It is a public school in Carlsbad, NM. CCD year-over-year: 257 (2022-23) → 320 (2023-24), up 63.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Preschool?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillcrest Preschool is 18.6:1, which is 33% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hillcrest Preschool?
17.1% of students at Hillcrest Preschool are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillcrest Preschool?
The largest demographic group at Hillcrest Preschool is Hispanic or Latino at 66.8% of enrollment, in Carlsbad, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillcrest Preschool?
Hillcrest Preschool has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Hillcrest Preschool rank among schools in Carlsbad?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillcrest Preschool ranks #2 of 4 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 schools in Carlsbad on the city page.
What other schools are in Carlsbad Municipal Schools?
Besides Hillcrest Preschool, 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.