Enrollment
1,565
New Mexico · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Albuquerque, NM
West Mesa High
Federal NCES profile for West Mesa High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 350006000119
👥 S:T ratio 46
📚 AP courses 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Mesa High earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also one of the largest schools in New Mexico.
- #7 of 29
- high schools in Albuquerque · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.5:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Mesa High has class sizes near the New Mexico median. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Mesa High ranks #7 of 29 high schools in Albuquerque, NM.
School address
District: Albuquerque Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350006000119 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
116.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 14:1 New Mexico avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 80.8% New Mexico avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Mesa High compares with New Mexico and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Mesa High
West Mesa High is a high-poverty, large high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, enrolling 1,565 students.
At 13.5:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the New Mexico median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the New Mexico typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in New Mexico, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,565 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 867 scored New Mexico schools.
Among 20 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 predominantly Hispanic or Latino (81% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 11 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 224 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
The surrounding Albuquerque Public Schools spends $12,964 per pupil, 22% below the New Mexico average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 313 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,565 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Albuquerque Public Schools also operates Volcano Vista High (2,089 students) and Atrisco Heritage Academy Hs (1,930 students) alongside West Mesa High.
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 West Mesa High compares
West Mesa High 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 4% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,565 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,565
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 52% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$12,964
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 224 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
117
in-school suspensions + 196 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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 81.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.1%
White 4.3%
African American 2.8%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 81.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.1, West Mesa High is less mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Albuquerque Public Schools, which includes West Mesa High.
$12,964
Per student
-22%
vs New Mexico
Avg $16,652
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 17.5%
State 68.0%
Federal 14.5%
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 West Mesa High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volcano Vista High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Atrisco Heritage Academy Hs | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| La Cueva High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sandia High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eldorado High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Mesa High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,930
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,618
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,579
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar high 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 (~1,565 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Mesa High's federal record.
- Compare West Mesa High against another school. Compare schools
- Albuquerque Public 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 West Mesa High
How many students attend West Mesa High?
West Mesa High has 1,565 students enrolled. It is a high school in Albuquerque, NM.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Mesa High?
The student-teacher ratio at West Mesa High is 13.5:1, which is 4% lower than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 14% 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 West Mesa High?
100.0% of students at West Mesa High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Mesa High?
The largest demographic group at West Mesa High is Hispanic or Latino at 81.2% of enrollment, in Albuquerque, NM.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Mesa High?
West Mesa High has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Mesa High rank among high schools in Albuquerque?
By Resource Investment Index, West Mesa High ranks #7 of 29 high schools in Albuquerque, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Albuquerque on the city page.
Is West Mesa High a good school?
West Mesa High earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also one of the largest schools in New Mexico. 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 Albuquerque Public Schools?
Besides West Mesa High, Albuquerque Public Schools also operates Volcano Vista High (2,089 students), Atrisco Heritage Academy Hs (1,930 students), and La Cueva High (1,826 students). See the Albuquerque Public 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.