Lea County Schools & Education
Lea County, New Mexico
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
28/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
84.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 79.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,838
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,957
School Score
28/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#18
of 33 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lea County
Measured School Summary
Lea County faces educational challenges with a school score of 28/100 and a graduation rate of 84.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,838 per pupil, Lea County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 14% below the New Mexico average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lea 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
38 public schools and 5 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
28/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #18 of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data.
Completion
84.7%
5.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,838
$1,119 below the state average
School coverage
38
5 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
Lea County has 38 public schools across 5 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.
What Lea 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.
Review-carefully county
Lea County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#18
of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% 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.
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
9,990 students
18 listed schools in this county slice.
LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
3,382 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
EUNICE MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
726 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
JAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
527 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 18 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 Lea County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lea County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Lea 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 Vast Educational Infrastructure
Lea County operates an expansive system of 38 public schools serving 14,928 students across five districts. This infrastructure includes 21 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 7 high schools, along with 2 specialized campuses. Most schools are located in town settings, while 9 campuses serve the more rural areas of the county.
Hobbs and Lovington Drive Enrollment
Hobbs Municipal Schools is the county's powerhouse district, managing 18 schools and 9,990 students. Lovington Municipal Schools follows with 10 schools and 3,382 students. There are currently no charter schools in Lea County, as the large municipal districts cover the vast majority of student needs.
From Large High Schools to Rural Classrooms
School environments vary wildly, from Hobbs High with 2,216 students to smaller rural elementary campuses. The average school size is 393 students, but large middle schools like Houston and Highland also play a major role. This diversity allows for both comprehensive extracurricular opportunities and localized learning.
School Overview
Total Schools
38
in Lea County
Reported Enrollment
14,928
38 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Lea County
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
GuideLOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
GuideEUNICE MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
JAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TATUM MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
38 Public Schools in Lea County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 38 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOBBS HIGH | Profile | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 2,216 |
| HOUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | 6–9 | Middle | 843 |
| HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 840 |
| HOBBS FRESHMAN HIGH | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | 9–10 | Other | 772 |
| LOVINGTON HIGH | Record | LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | LOVINGTON, 88260Town: Remote | 10–12 | High | 737 |
| HEIZER MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 606 |
| TAYLOR MIDDLE | Record | LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | LOVINGTON, 88260Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 527 |
| COLLEGE LANE ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 519 |
| MURRAY ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 458 |
| YARBRO ELEMENTARY | Record | LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | LOVINGTON, 88260Town: Remote | 4–5 | Primary | 443 |
| TAYLOR ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 421 |
| STONE ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 404 |
| MILLS ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 401 |
| SANGER ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 393 |
| SOUTHERN HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 371 |
| CORONADO ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 368 |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 351 |
| METTIE JORDAN ELEMENTARY | Record | EUNICE MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | EUNICE, 88231Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 346 |
| BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY | Record | HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | HOBBS, 88240Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 333 |
| LLANO ELEMENTARY | Record | LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | LOVINGTON, 88260Town: Remote | PK–KG | Primary | 325 |
HOBBS HIGH
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
HOBBS, 88240 / Town: Remote
COLLEGE LANE ELEMENTARY
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
HOBBS, 88240 / Rural: Fringe
YARBRO ELEMENTARY
LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
LOVINGTON, 88260 / Town: Remote
SOUTHERN HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
HOBBS, 88240 / Town: Remote
METTIE JORDAN ELEMENTARY
EUNICE MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
EUNICE, 88231 / Town: Remote
LLANO ELEMENTARY
LOVINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
LOVINGTON, 88260 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,838
State avg $7,957
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lea County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which New Mexico counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in New Mexico?
How should I read the school score in Lea County?
What is the graduation rate in Lea County?
How much does Lea County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lea County, New Mexico — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lea County, New Mexico?
Lea County operates an expansive system of 38 public schools serving 14,928 students across five districts. This infrastructure includes 21 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 7 high schools, along with 2 specialized campuses. Most schools are located in town settings, while 9 campuses serve the more rural areas of the county.
What are the major school districts in Lea County, New Mexico?
Hobbs Municipal Schools is the county's powerhouse district, managing 18 schools and 9,990 students. Lovington Municipal Schools follows with 10 schools and 3,382 students. There are currently no charter schools in Lea County, as the large municipal districts cover the vast majority of student needs.
What is the school experience like in Lea County?
School environments vary wildly, from Hobbs High with 2,216 students to smaller rural elementary campuses. The average school size is 393 students, but large middle schools like Houston and Highland also play a major role. This diversity allows for both comprehensive extracurricular opportunities and localized learning.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.