Lincoln County Schools & Education
Lincoln County, New Mexico
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
36/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
81.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
81.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 79.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,744
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,957
School Score
36/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 33/100
State Score Position
#13
of 33 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lincoln County
Measured School Summary
Lincoln County faces educational challenges with a school score of 36/100 and a graduation rate of 81.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,744 per pupil, Lincoln County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 8% above the New Mexico average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lincoln 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
14 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
36/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #13 of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data.
Completion
81.7%
2.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,744
$213 below the state average
School coverage
14
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
Lincoln County has 14 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 Lincoln 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
Lincoln 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
#13
of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data. The county score is 3 points above 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.
RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
1,820 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
CAPITAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
471 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Elementary to high school visible
157 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
HONDO VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary and high visible
124 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Lincoln County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.
Education in the Mountain Communities
Lincoln County manages 14 public schools that serve 2,642 students through five different districts. The network includes 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools, primarily located in rural settings. Only two of the county's schools are situated in town locales, reflecting the area's scenic, spread-out geography.
Ruidoso Leads a Five-District System
Ruidoso Municipal Schools is the largest district, serving 1,820 students across 4 schools. Capitan and Carrizozo Municipal Schools provide essential education to smaller cohorts in the more rural parts of the county. No charter schools are currently operating, leaving education entirely in the hands of the local municipal districts.
Small Schools with Scenic Backdrops
The average school size is 189 students, though Ruidoso High is the local exception with 532 enrolled. Most campuses, like Capitan Elementary, offer a very personal feel with about 200 students or fewer. Twelve of the 14 schools are classified as rural, providing students with a quiet and focused environment.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in Lincoln County
Reported Enrollment
2,642
14 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Lincoln County
RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
CAPITAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
HONDO VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CORONA MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
14 Public Schools in Lincoln County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 14 of 14 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RUIDOSO HIGH | Record | RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | RUIDOSO, 88345Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 532 |
| SIERRA VISTA PRIMARY | Record | RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | RUIDOSO, 88345Town: Remote | PK–2 | Primary | 497 |
| WHITE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY | Record | RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | RUIDOSO, 88345Town: Remote | 3–5 | Primary | 397 |
| RUIDOSO MIDDLE | Record | RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | RUIDOSO, 88345Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 394 |
| CAPITAN ELEMENTARY | Record | CAPITAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CAPITAN, 88316Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 202 |
| CAPITAN HIGH | Record | CAPITAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CAPITAN, 88316Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 142 |
| CAPITAN MIDDLE | Record | CAPITAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CAPITAN, 88316Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 127 |
| CARRIZOZO ELEMENTARY | Record | CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CARRIZOZO, 88301Rural: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 72 |
| HONDO ELEMENTARY | Record | HONDO VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HONDO, 88336Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 62 |
| HONDO HIGH | Record | HONDO VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HONDO, 88336Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 62 |
| CARRIZOZO HIGH | Record | CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CARRIZOZO, 88301Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 53 |
| CORONA ELEMENTARY | Record | CORONA MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CORONA, 88318Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 41 |
| CARRIZOZO MIDDLE | Record | CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CARRIZOZO, 88301Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 32 |
| CORONA HIGH | Record | CORONA MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS | CORONA, 88318Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 29 |
SIERRA VISTA PRIMARY
RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
RUIDOSO, 88345 / Town: Remote
WHITE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY
RUIDOSO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
RUIDOSO, 88345 / Town: Remote
CAPITAN ELEMENTARY
CAPITAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
CAPITAN, 88316 / Rural: Remote
CARRIZOZO ELEMENTARY
CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
CARRIZOZO, 88301 / Rural: Remote
CARRIZOZO MIDDLE
CARRIZOZO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
CARRIZOZO, 88301 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,744
State avg $7,957
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
What is the graduation rate in Lincoln County?
How much does Lincoln County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lincoln County, New Mexico — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
Lincoln County manages 14 public schools that serve 2,642 students through five different districts. The network includes 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools, primarily located in rural settings. Only two of the county's schools are situated in town locales, reflecting the area's scenic, spread-out geography.
What are the major school districts in Lincoln County, New Mexico?
Ruidoso Municipal Schools is the largest district, serving 1,820 students across 4 schools. Capitan and Carrizozo Municipal Schools provide essential education to smaller cohorts in the more rural parts of the county. No charter schools are currently operating, leaving education entirely in the hands of the local municipal districts.
What is the school experience like in Lincoln County?
The average school size is 189 students, though Ruidoso High is the local exception with 532 enrolled. Most campuses, like Capitan Elementary, offer a very personal feel with about 200 students or fewer. Twelve of the 14 schools are classified as rural, providing students with a quiet and focused environment.
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.