- Enrollment
- 2,128
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Las Cruces, NM
White Sands Elementary
Federal NCES profile for White Sands Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 350150000397
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
White Sands Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New Mexico schools.
- #13 of 25
- schools in Las Cruces · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
White Sands Elementary has class sizes near the New Mexico median. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, White Sands Elementary ranks #13 of 25 schools in Las Cruces, NM.
School address
District: Las Cruces Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350150000397 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
White Sands Elementary held near 283 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 24.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 350150000397 · Las Cruces, NM Other · SMALL · TRAD
270 enr · 12.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Organ Mountain High School (2,128 students)
White Sands Elementary held near 283 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 21.0 → 24.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Mexico schools → · Find another →
White Sands Elementary 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 270
White Sands Elementary
270 students
What this shows White Sands Elementary reports 270 students on the CCD universe file.
How White Sands Elementary compares
White Sands 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 8% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 270 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
270
Bigger than 28% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 44% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
59.6%
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
$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
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 42.2%
White 41.5%
Two or More 11.1%
African American 3.0%
Asian 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.6, White Sands Elementary is more 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 White Sands Elementary 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 White Sands Elementary'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 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 (~270 students)
Frequently asked questions about White Sands Elementary
How many students attend White Sands Elementary?
White Sands Elementary has 270 students enrolled. It is a public school in Las Cruces, NM. CCD year-over-year: 275 (2022-23) → 283 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at White Sands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at White Sands Elementary is 12.9:1, which is 8% lower than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 18% 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 White Sands Elementary?
100.0% of students at White Sands Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of White Sands Elementary?
The largest demographic group at White Sands Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 42.2% of enrollment, in Las Cruces, NM. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for White Sands Elementary?
White Sands Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 White Sands Elementary rank among schools in Las Cruces?
By Resource Investment Index, White Sands Elementary ranks #13 of 25 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 schools in Las Cruces on the city page.
What other schools are in Las Cruces Public Schools?
Besides White Sands Elementary, 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.