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

No. Use the McKinley 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 McKinley 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 McKinley County?

Start with the 41 listed public schools and 6 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

McKinley County Schools & Education

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

McKinley County, New Mexico

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

School Score

33/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

78.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

78.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 79.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,785

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,957

School Score

33/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 33/100

State Score Position

#14

of 33 counties by score

Education Data Brief: McKinley County

Measured School Summary

McKinley County faces educational challenges with a school score of 33/100 and a graduation rate of 78.4%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,785 per pupil, McKinley County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 1% above the New Mexico average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read McKinley 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

41 public schools and 6 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

33/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #14 of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data.

Completion

78.4%

0.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,785

$172 below the state average

School coverage

6 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

McKinley County has 41 public schools across 6 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 McKinley 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.

Dominant-district county

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS carries most of the listed public-school system, with 33 of 41 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#14

of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 95% 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.

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

11,709 students

Elementary 16Middle 7High 9Other 1

33 listed schools in this county slice.

ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

1,095 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

HOZHO ACADEMY

Other grade structure

616 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CHARTER - GALLUP

High school only in this slice

140 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 33 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 McKinley County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McKinley 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 McKinley 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 Rural School Network

McKinley County operates a vast network of 41 public schools serving 13,685 students across six districts. The system includes 17 elementary schools and 14 high schools, making it one of the state's more robust rural education infrastructures. Four charter schools operate here, representing nearly 10% of the total school inventory.

Gallup-McKinley County Schools Leads Enrollment

Gallup-McKinley County Schools dominates the landscape with 11,709 students across 33 different schools. Zuni Public Schools follows as the second-largest district, supporting 1,095 students. Notable institutions like Hozho Academy showcase the county's charter school options, serving 616 students in an 'other' level configuration.

Diverse Locales from Town to Rural

The county features a heavy rural presence with 24 schools situated in rural locales and 17 in town settings. While the average school size is 351 students, Miyamura High School serves as a major hub with 1,393 students. This mix offers families a choice between large town-based high schools and smaller, community-focused rural campuses.

School Overview

Total Schools

in McKinley County

Reported Enrollment

13,685

39 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

10% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary17

Middle8

High14

Other2

6 School Districts in McKinley County

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

4 schools

1,095 students

HOZHO ACADEMY

1 school

616 students

MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CHARTER - GALLUP

1 school

140 students

SIX DIRECTIONS INDIGENOUS SCHOOL

1 school

76 students

DZIT DIT LOOL SCHOOL OF EMPOWERMENT ACTION AND PERSEVERANCE

1 school

49 students

41 Public Schools in McKinley County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 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

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Showing 20 of 41 matching schools

Public schools in McKinley County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
MIYAMURA HIGH SCHOOL	Profile	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	9–12	High	1,393
GALLUP HIGH	Profile	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	961
JOHN F. KENNEDY MIDDLE	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	630
HOZHO ACADEMY	Record	HOZHO ACADEMY	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	KG–9	Charter	616
CHIEF MANUELITO MIDDLE	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	609
JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	488
SHIWI TS'ANA ELEMENTARY	Record	ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ZUNI, 87327Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	480
DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	477
THOREAU HIGH	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	THOREAU, 87323Rural: Remote	9–12	High	475
GALLUP MIDDLE	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	400
THOREAU ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	THOREAU, 87323Rural: Remote	PK–5	Primary	400
CROWNPOINT HIGH	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	CROWNPOINT, 87313Rural: Remote	9–12	High	396
TOBE TURPEN ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	390
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	366
TOHATCHI HIGH	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	TOHATCHI, 87325Rural: Remote	9–12	High	360
NAVAJO ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	NAVAJO, 87328Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	345
STAGECOACH ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	GALLUP, 87301Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	345
CATHERINE A. MILLER ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	CHURCH ROCK, 87311Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	342
CROWNPOINT ELEMENTARY	Record	GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS	CROWNPOINT, 87313Rural: Remote	PK–5	Primary	331
ZUNI HIGH	Record	ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ZUNI, 87327Town: Remote	9–12	High	324

MIYAMURA HIGH SCHOOL

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,393 students

GALLUP HIGH

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High961 students

JOHN F. KENNEDY MIDDLE

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle630 students

HOZHO ACADEMY

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–9Charter616 students

CHIEF MANUELITO MIDDLE

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle609 students

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary488 students

SHIWI TS'ANA ELEMENTARY

ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ZUNI, 87327 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary480 students

DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary477 students

THOREAU HIGH

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

THOREAU, 87323 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High475 students

GALLUP MIDDLE

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle400 students

THOREAU ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

THOREAU, 87323 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary400 students

CROWNPOINT HIGH

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

CROWNPOINT, 87313 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High396 students

TOBE TURPEN ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary390 students

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary366 students

TOHATCHI HIGH

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

TOHATCHI, 87325 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High360 students

NAVAJO ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

NAVAJO, 87328 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary345 students

STAGECOACH ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

GALLUP, 87301 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary345 students

CATHERINE A. MILLER ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

CHURCH ROCK, 87311 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary342 students

CROWNPOINT ELEMENTARY

GALLUP-MCKINLEY CTY SCHOOLS

CROWNPOINT, 87313 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary331 students

ZUNI HIGH

ZUNI PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ZUNI, 87327 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High324 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,785

State avg $7,957

Compare Nearby Counties

Review McKinley 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 McKinley County?

McKinley County has a school score of 33/100, 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 McKinley County?

The high school graduation rate in McKinley County is 78.4%, 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 McKinley County spend per student?

McKinley County spends $7,785 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 McKinley County, New Mexico — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in McKinley County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Grant County

New Mexico

-1 pts

33/100

School score

Lincoln County

New Mexico

+2 pts

36/100

School score

Quay County

New Mexico

+3 pts

36/100

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.

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