Can I use Doña Ana County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Doña Ana County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Doña Ana County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Doña Ana County?

Start with the 81 listed public schools and 11 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Doña Ana County Schools & Education

Name: Doña Ana County, New Mexico Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Doña Ana County, New Mexico

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

24/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

82.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

82.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 79.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,852

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,957

School Score

24/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 33/100

State Score Position

#22

of 33 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Doña Ana County

Measured School Summary

Doña Ana County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 82.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,852 per pupil, Doña Ana County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 26% below the New Mexico average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Doña Ana County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

81 public schools and 11 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

24/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #22 of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data.

Completion

82.0%

3.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,852

$1,105 below the state average

School coverage

11 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Doña Ana County has 81 public schools across 11 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Doña Ana County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Doña Ana County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#22

of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

23,075 students

Elementary 25Middle 8High 7Other 0

40 listed schools in this county slice.

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

12,078 students

Elementary 15Middle 3High 5Other 4

27 listed schools in this county slice.

HATCH VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

1,166 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY

Elementary school only in this slice

198 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 40 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Doña Ana County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Doña Ana County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in Doña Ana County, New Mexico

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Large, Diverse Educational Network

Doña Ana County supports 37,364 students across 81 public schools, including 45 elementary and 18 high schools. This massive infrastructure is managed by 11 distinct school districts.

Graduation Rates Exceed State Average

The graduation rate is 82.0%, outperforming the New Mexico state average of 79%. Per-pupil expenditure is $6,852, which remains below the state average of $7,957 and the national $13,000 benchmark.

Las Cruces and Gadsden Lead the Way

Las Cruces Public Schools is the largest district with 23,075 students, followed by Gadsden Independent Schools with 12,551. Seven charter schools provide specialized options for 8.6% of the county's schools.

A Blend of City Hubs and Rural Outposts

The county features 31 city schools and 28 rural schools, with an average school size of 473 students. Organ Mountain High is the largest campus, serving nearly 2,000 students in Las Cruces.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Doña Ana County

Reported Enrollment

37,364

80 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

9% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary45

Middle14

High18

Other4

11 School Districts in Doña Ana County

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

HATCH VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

5 schools

1,166 students

J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY

1 school

198 students

EXPLORE ACADEMY LAS CRUCES

1 school

189 students

NEW AMERICA SCHOOL - LAS CRUCES

1 school

170 students

LAS MONTANAS CHARTER

1 school

162 students

ALMA D'ARTE CHARTER

1 school

121 students

RAICES DEL SABER XINACHTLI COMMUNITY SCHOOL

1 school

114 students

LA ACADEMIA DOLORES HUERTA

1 school

66 students

81 Public Schools in Doña Ana County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 8 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 81 matching schools

Public schools in Doña Ana County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,980
LAS CRUCES HIGH	Profile	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,787
CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,615
MAYFIELD HIGH	Profile	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,421
GADSDEN HIGH	Profile	GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS	ANTHONY, 88021Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,322
SANTA TERESA HIGH	Profile	GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS	SANTA TERESA, 88008Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,198
CHAPARRAL HIGH	Profile	GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS	ANTHONY, 88021Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,067
CAMINO REAL MIDDLE	Profile	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	965
MESA MIDDLE	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	803
SIERRA MIDDLE	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	799
SONOMA ELEMENTARY	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88011Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	748
HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88012City: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	744
PICACHO MIDDLE	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	727
MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88012Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	718
ZIA MIDDLE	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	688
GADSDEN MIDDLE	Record	GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS	ANTHONY, 88021Rural: Fringe	7–8	Middle	661
SANTA TERESA MIDDLE	Record	GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS	SANTA TERESA, 88008Suburb: Large	7–8	Middle	625
CHAPARRAL MIDDLE	Record	GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS	CHAPARRAL, 88021Rural: Fringe	7–8	Middle	608
VISTA MIDDLE	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001City: Midsize	6–8	Middle	602
TOMBAUGH ELEMENTARY	Record	LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS	LAS CRUCES, 88001Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	585

ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,980 students

LAS CRUCES HIGH

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,787 students

CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,615 students

MAYFIELD HIGH

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,421 students

GADSDEN HIGH

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

ANTHONY, 88021 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,322 students

SANTA TERESA HIGH

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

SANTA TERESA, 88008 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,198 students

CHAPARRAL HIGH

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

ANTHONY, 88021 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,067 students

CAMINO REAL MIDDLE

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle965 students

MESA MIDDLE

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle803 students

SIERRA MIDDLE

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle799 students

SONOMA ELEMENTARY

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88011 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary748 students

HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88012 / City: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary744 students

PICACHO MIDDLE

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle727 students

MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88012 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary718 students

ZIA MIDDLE

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle688 students

GADSDEN MIDDLE

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

ANTHONY, 88021 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–8Middle661 students

SANTA TERESA MIDDLE

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

SANTA TERESA, 88008 / Suburb: Large

Record7–8Middle625 students

CHAPARRAL MIDDLE

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

CHAPARRAL, 88021 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–8Middle608 students

VISTA MIDDLE

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle602 students

TOMBAUGH ELEMENTARY

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAS CRUCES, 88001 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary585 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,852

State avg $7,957

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Doña Ana County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New Mexico counties have the highest graduation rates?

Los Alamos County (93.0%), De Baca County (90.0%), and Mora County (90.0%) currently lead New Mexico among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in New Mexico?

Across New Mexico counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,957. The highest current county values are Catron County ($13,747), Harding County ($13,463), and Guadalupe County ($10,823). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Doña Ana County?

Doña Ana County has a school score of 24/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Doña Ana County?

The high school graduation rate in Doña Ana County is 82.0%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Doña Ana County spend per student?

Doña Ana County spends $6,852 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Doña Ana County, New Mexico — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Doña Ana County, New Mexico?

Doña Ana County supports 37,364 students across 81 public schools, including 45 elementary and 18 high schools. This massive infrastructure is managed by 11 distinct school districts.

How do schools in Doña Ana County perform academically?

The graduation rate is 82.0%, outperforming the New Mexico state average of 79%. Per-pupil expenditure is $6,852, which remains below the state average of $7,957 and the national $13,000 benchmark.

What are the major school districts in Doña Ana County, New Mexico?

What is the school experience like in Doña Ana County?

The county features 31 city schools and 28 rural schools, with an average school size of 473 students. Organ Mountain High is the largest campus, serving nearly 2,000 students in Las Cruces.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Rio Arriba County

New Mexico

+0 pts

24/100

School score

San Juan County

New Mexico

-1 pts

24/100

School score

Luna County

New Mexico

-1 pts

23/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Explore more data for Doña Ana County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score