- Enrollment
- 958
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Belen, NM
La Merced Elementary
Federal NCES profile for La Merced Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 350018030003
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
La Merced Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of New Mexico schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Belen · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.4:1
- large classes for New Mexico
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
La Merced Elementary has class sizes larger than 70% of New Mexico schools. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, La Merced Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Belen, NM.
School address
District: Belen Consolidated Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350018030003 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
La Merced Elementary held near 433 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.5 → 28.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 350018030003 · Belen, NM Other · SMALL · TRAD
463 enr · 15.4:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Belen High (958 students)
La Merced Elementary held near 433 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.5 → 28.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
La Merced Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Belen High
Belen High
958 students
- Belen Middle
Belen Middle
475 students
- This school
La Merced Elementary
463 students
- Rio Grande Ele 332
Rio Grande Elementary
332 students
- Gil Sanchez El 316
Gil Sanchez Elementary
316 students
- Dennis Chavez 294
Dennis Chavez Elementary
294 students
What this shows La Merced Elementary reports 463 students on the CCD universe file.
How La Merced Elementary compares
La Merced 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 | 15.4:1 | ▲ 10% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 463 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
463
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 70% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.6%
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
$15,218
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 463 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 35 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 79.0%
White 18.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
African American 0.6%
Two or More 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 79.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.1, La Merced Elementary is less mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Belen Consolidated Schools reports $15,218 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How La Merced Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belen High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Belen Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rio Grande Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gil Sanchez Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dennis Chavez Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to La Merced Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 475
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 332
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 316
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 294
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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 (~463 students)
Frequently asked questions about La Merced Elementary
How many students attend La Merced Elementary?
La Merced Elementary has 463 students enrolled. It is a public school in Belen, NM. CCD year-over-year: 437 (2022-23) → 433 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at La Merced Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at La Merced Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 10% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at La Merced Elementary?
100.0% of students at La Merced Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of La Merced Elementary?
The largest demographic group at La Merced Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 79.0% of enrollment, in Belen, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for La Merced Elementary?
La Merced Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 La Merced Elementary rank among schools in Belen?
By Resource Investment Index, La Merced Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Belen, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Belen on the city page.
What other schools are in Belen Consolidated Schools?
Besides La Merced Elementary, Belen Consolidated Schools also operates Belen High (958 students), Belen Middle (475 students), and Rio Grande Elementary (332 students). See the Belen Consolidated Schools district page for the complete list.