Doña Ana County Schools & Education
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
NCES + U.S. Census BureauSchool Score
24/100
Higher = better
Rating
Below Average
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
Higher = better
State avg 33/100
Student-Teacher Ratio
N/A
National avg 15.8 : 1
Free Lunch (Median)
N/A
National median 48.2%
State School Rank
#22
of 33 counties (1 = best)
Education Advisory: Doña Ana County
School Verdict
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.
Attainment Context
Educational attainment data for Doña Ana County is not available.
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.
Education Overview
About Schools in Doña Ana County, New Mexico
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.
Settle Near High-Performing Schools
With graduation rates higher than the state average, Doña Ana County is a top choice for families. Explore homes in Las Cruces or the Gadsden area to find a neighborhood near these growing school districts.
School Overview
Total Schools
81
in Doña Ana County
Total Enrollment
37,364
students
School Districts
11
districts
Charter Schools
7
9% of total
Student-Teacher Ratio
—
county average
Free Lunch (Median)
—
of students countywide
School Type Breakdown
11 School Districts in Doña Ana County
LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS
GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
HATCH VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY
EXPLORE ACADEMY LAS CRUCES
NEW AMERICA SCHOOL - LAS CRUCES
LAS MONTANAS CHARTER
ALMA D'ARTE CHARTER
RAICES DEL SABER XINACHTLI COMMUNITY SCHOOL
LA ACADEMIA DOLORES HUERTA
81 Public Schools in Doña Ana County
| School Name | District | Grades | Type | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,980 |
| LAS CRUCES HIGH | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,787 |
| CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,615 |
| MAYFIELD HIGH | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,421 |
| GADSDEN HIGH | GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,322 |
| SANTA TERESA HIGH | GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,198 |
| CHAPARRAL HIGH | GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 1,067 |
| CAMINO REAL MIDDLE | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 965 |
| MESA MIDDLE | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 803 |
| SIERRA MIDDLE | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 799 |
| SONOMA ELEMENTARY | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PK–5 | Primary | 748 |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PK–5 | Primary | 744 |
| PICACHO MIDDLE | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 727 |
| MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PK–5 | Primary | 718 |
| ZIA MIDDLE | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 688 |
| GADSDEN MIDDLE | GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | 7–8 | Middle | 661 |
| SANTA TERESA MIDDLE | GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | 7–8 | Middle | 625 |
| CHAPARRAL MIDDLE | GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | 7–8 | Middle | 608 |
| VISTA MIDDLE | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 602 |
| TOMBAUGH ELEMENTARY | LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PK–5 | Primary | 585 |
Educational Attainment
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,852
State avg $7,957
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do schools in Doña Ana County rate?
What is the graduation rate in Doña Ana County?
How much does Doña Ana County spend per student?
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?
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.
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.
How can I find homes near good schools in Doña Ana County, New Mexico?
With graduation rates higher than the state average, Doña Ana County is a top choice for families. Explore homes in Las Cruces or the Gadsden area to find a neighborhood near these growing school districts.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.