- Enrollment
- 2,128
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Las Cruces, NM
Sierra Middle
Federal NCES profile for Sierra Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 350150000455
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sierra Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median.
- #3 of 8
- middle schools in Las Cruces · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sierra Middle has class sizes near the New Mexico median. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Middle ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Las Cruces, NM.
School address
District: Las Cruces Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350150000455 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Sierra Middle shrank from 799 students in 2022-23 to 752 in 2023-24 (-5.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 49.5 → 47.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-47 students YoY 350150000455 · Las Cruces, NM Middle · MID · TRAD
698 enr · 14.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students)
Sierra Middle shrank from 799 students in 2022-23 to 752 in 2023-24 (-5.9%). Teacher FTE lost 49.5 → 47.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
Sierra Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Organ Mountain
Organ Mountain High School
2,128 students
- Centennial Hig
Centennial High School
1,713 students
- Las Cruces Hig
Las Cruces High
1,703 students
- Mayfield High
Mayfield High
1,327 students
- Camino Real Mi
Camino Real Middle
933 students
- This school 698
Sierra Middle
698 students
What this shows Sierra Middle reports 698 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sierra Middle compares
Sierra Middle is a shrinking 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 | 14.2:1 | ▲ 1% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 698 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
698
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
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
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 59% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
55.3%
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
$14,613
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 88 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 82.2%
White 13.8%
African American 2.1%
Two or More 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 82.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.5, Sierra Middle is less mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Las Cruces Public Schools reports $14,613 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sierra Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organ Mountain High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Centennial High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Las Cruces High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mayfield High | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Camino Real Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sierra Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,703
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,327
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 933
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~698 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sierra Middle
How many students attend Sierra Middle?
Sierra Middle has 698 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Las Cruces, NM. CCD year-over-year: 799 (2022-23) → 752 (2023-24), down 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sierra Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Sierra Middle is 14.2:1, which is 1% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sierra Middle?
100.0% of students at Sierra Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sierra Middle?
The largest demographic group at Sierra Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 82.2% of enrollment, in Las Cruces, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sierra Middle?
Sierra Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Sierra Middle rank among middle schools in Las Cruces?
By Resource Investment Index, Sierra Middle ranks #3 of 8 middle schools in Las Cruces, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Las Cruces on the city page.
What other schools are in Las Cruces Public Schools?
Besides Sierra Middle, Las Cruces Public Schools also operates Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students), Centennial High School (1,713 students), and Las Cruces High (1,703 students). See the Las Cruces Public Schools district page for the complete list.