- Enrollment
- 754
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Portales, NM
James Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 350210000486
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of New Mexico schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Portales · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.7:1
- small classes for New Mexico
- 62.0%
- free-lunch eligible
James Elementary has class sizes smaller than 70% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Portales, NM.
School address
District: Portales Municipal Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350210000486 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
James Elementary held near 375 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 4.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 350210000486 · Portales, NM Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
364 enr · 11.7:1 · 62.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Portales High (754 students)
James Elementary held near 375 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 31.0 → 4.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
James Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Portales High
Portales High
754 students
- Lindsey-Steine
Lindsey-Steiner Elementary
376 students
- Valencia Eleme
Valencia Elementary
366 students
- This school
James Elementary
364 students
- Brown Early Ch
Brown Early Childhood Center
332 students
- Portales Jr Hi
Portales Jr High
326 students
What this shows James Elementary reports 364 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Elementary compares
James 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 | 11.7:1 | ▼ 16% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.0% | ▼ 23% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 364 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
364
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 30% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,691
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $19,381
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 364 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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 71.4%
White 24.2%
Two or More 1.6%
African American 1.4%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 71.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.1, James Elementary is more mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
District finance for Portales Municipal Schools reports $15,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portales High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lindsey-Steiner Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valencia Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brown Early Childhood Center | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Portales Jr High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 366
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 332
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 326
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
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 (~364 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Elementary
How many students attend James Elementary?
James Elementary has 364 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Portales, NM. CCD year-over-year: 379 (2022-23) → 375 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Elementary is 11.7:1, which is 16% lower than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 25% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Elementary?
62.0% of students at James Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 71.4% of enrollment, in Portales, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Elementary?
James Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James Elementary rank among elementary schools in Portales?
By Resource Investment Index, James Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Portales, 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 Portales on the city page.
What other schools are in Portales Municipal Schools?
Besides James Elementary, Portales Municipal Schools also operates Portales High (754 students), Lindsey-Steiner Elementary (376 students), and Valencia Elementary (366 students). See the Portales Municipal Schools district page for the complete list.