Total enrollment
36,561
-1,481 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Doña Ana County
New Mexico · Public K-12
Doña Ana County, New Mexico hosts 81 public K-12 schools and around 36,561 students, averaging roughly 451 per school. Las Cruces runs the largest share. By grade band, the county runs 49 elementary, 13 middle, and 17 high schools.
4-year change in Doña Ana County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
77
-2 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Doña Ana County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Mexico | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 36.0% | #4 of 10 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 36,561 | #2 of 26 | #287 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 77 | #2 of 26 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.1:1 | #7 of 25 | #559 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 98.5% | #7 of 26 | #128 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 25.7% | #24 of 26 | #1,941 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Doña Ana County school rankings
Residents
224,266
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
81
12 districts
Enrollment
36,561
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,848
Below New Mexico avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.5%
Above New Mexico avg
Elementary
49
16,939 students
Middle
13
6,825 students
High
17
12,198 students
Combined / other
2
599 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
LAS CRUCES
22,670 students · 12 districts in Doña Ana County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Doña Ana County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
31.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.8%
civilian labor
Median age
34
23.1% under 18
Test scores in Doña Ana County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 53 schools ranked. New Mexico state average: 44.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- DESERT HILLS ELEMENTARY· 63.8%
- WHITE SANDS ELEMENTARY· 63.7%
- CAMINO REAL MIDDLE· 59.8%
- SONOMA ELEMENTARY· 59.3%
- J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY· 58.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- MAC ARTHUR ELEMENTARY· 19.4%
- SUNRISE ELEMENTARY· 24.0%
- VADO ELEMENTARY· 25.5%
- ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY· 27.3%
- BERINO ELEMENTARY· 29.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORGAN MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 2,128 | · |
| CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 1,713 | · |
| LAS CRUCES HIGH | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 1,703 | · |
| MAYFIELD HIGH | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 1,327 | · |
| GADSDEN HIGH | Anthony | High | 09-12 | 1,219 | · |
| SANTA TERESA HIGH | Santa Teresa | High | 09-12 | 1,154 | · |
| CHAPARRAL HIGH | Anthony | High | 09-12 | 1,067 | · |
| CAMINO REAL MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 933 | · |
| MESA MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 728 | · |
| MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 706 | · |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 704 | · |
| PICACHO MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 698 | · |
| SIERRA MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 698 | · |
| SONOMA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 660 | · |
| GADSDEN MIDDLE | Anthony | Middle | 07-08 | 650 | · |
| ZIA MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 616 | · |
| EXPLORE ACADEMY LAS CRUCES | Las Cruces | Combined | KG-11 | 599 | · |
| VISTA MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 574 | · |
| TOMBAUGH ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 565 | · |
| RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY | Sunland Park | Elementary | PK-06 | 550 | · |
| ARROWHEAD PARK EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 549 | · |
| CHAPARRAL MIDDLE | Chaparral | Middle | 07-08 | 546 | · |
| SANTA TERESA MIDDLE | Santa Teresa | Middle | 07-08 | 528 | · |
| DESERT VIEW ELEMENTARY | Sunland Park | Elementary | PK-06 | 524 | · |
| LYNN MIDDLE | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | 507 | · |
| DESERT HILLS ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 502 | · |
| CESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-02 | 492 | · |
| SANTA TERESA ELEMENTARY | Santa Teresa | Elementary | PK-06 | 484 | · |
| DESERT TRAIL ELEMENTARY | Chaparral | Elementary | PK-06 | 479 | · |
| EAST PICACHO ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 460 | · |
| LOMA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 450 | · |
| CHAPARRAL ELEMENTARY | Chaparral | Elementary | PK-06 | 437 | · |
| JORNADA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 429 | · |
| HILLRISE ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 421 | · |
| CONLEE ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 417 | · |
| VADO ELEMENTARY | Vado | Elementary | PK-06 | 415 | · |
| HERMOSA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 408 | · |
| SUNRISE ELEMENTARY | Anthony | Elementary | PK-06 | 406 | · |
| FAIRACRES ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 405 | · |
| LOMA LINDA ELEMENTARY | Anthony | Elementary | PK-06 | 398 | · |
| GADSDEN ELEMENTARY | Sunland Park | Elementary | PK-06 | 379 | · |
| DONA ANA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 372 | · |
| HATCH VALLEY HIGH | Hatch | High | 09-12 | 367 | · |
| SUNRISE ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | 03-05 | 363 | · |
| UNIVERSITY HILLS ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 363 | · |
| BOOKER T. WASHINGTON | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 361 | · |
| VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 343 | · |
| LA UNION ELEMENTARY | Anthony | Elementary | PK-06 | 340 | · |
| NORTH VALLEY ELEMENTARY | San Miguel | Elementary | PK-06 | 338 | · |
| MAC ARTHUR ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 335 | · |
| ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 331 | · |
| MESILLA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 324 | · |
| MESILLA PARK ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 311 | · |
| BERINO ELEMENTARY | Anthony | Elementary | PK-06 | 300 | · |
| WHITE SANDS ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-08 | 270 | · |
| HATCH VALLEY MIDDLE | Hatch | Middle | 06-08 | 253 | · |
| RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY | Hatch | Elementary | 03-05 | 240 | · |
| NEW AMERICA SCHOOL - LAS CRUCES | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 225 | · |
| DESERT PRIDE ACADEMY | Anthony | High | 07-12 | 221 | · |
| LAS MONTANAS CHARTER | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 201 | · |
| J PAUL TAYLOR ACADEMY | Las Cruces | Elementary | KG-08 | 200 | · |
| HATCH VALLEY ELEMENTARY | Hatch | Elementary | PK-02 | 190 | · |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 182 | · |
| COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY | Las Cruces | Elementary | PK-05 | 182 | · |
| ALTA VISTA EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL | Anthony | High | 09-12 | 180 | · |
| ANTHONY ELEMENTARY | Anthony | Elementary | PK-06 | 163 | · |
| CHAPARRAL ON-TRACK PREK CENTER | Chapparal | Elementary | PK-PK | 160 | · |
| ANTHONY ON-TRACK PREK CENTER | Anthony | Elementary | PK-PK | 136 | · |
| GADSDEN ADMIN COMPLEX PREK CENTER | Sunland Park | Elementary | PK-PK | 135 | · |
| RAICES DEL SABER XINACHTLI COMMUNITY | Las Cruces | Elementary | KG-05 | 122 | · |
| GARFIELD ELEMENTARY | Garfield | Elementary | PK-02 | 96 | · |
| MESILLA VALLEY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY | Mesilla Park | Middle | 06-08 | 94 | · |
| LA MESA ON TRACK PREK CENTER | La Mesa | Elementary | PK-PK | 91 | · |
| ALMA D'ARTE CHARTER | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 63 | · |
| RIO GRANDE PREPARATORY INSTITUTE | Mesilla | High | 09-12 | 46 | · |
| AZTEC YOUTH ACADEMY | Las Cruces | High | 09-12 | 33 | · |
| SOUTHERN NM CORRECTIONS | Las Cruces | High | 08-12 | 2 | · |
| ARROWHEAD PARK MEDICAL ACADEMY | Las Cruces | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| LA ACADEMIA DOLORES HUERTA | Las Cruces | Middle | 06-08 | · | · |
| MESQUITE ELEMENTARY | Mesquite | Elementary | PK-06 | · | · |
| SUNLAND PARK ELEMENTARY | Sunland Park | Elementary | PK-06 | · | · |
Cities in Doña Ana County
About Doña Ana County
Across the middle-population New Mexico county of Doñan Ana County of about 224,266 residents, the public-school footprint covers 81 schools and about 36,561 students.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $56,848 a year, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 19% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
In terms of grade levels, Doñan Ana County covers 49 elementary schools (16,939 students), 13 middle schools (6,825), 17 high schools (12,198), and 2 combined or other schools.
LAS CRUCES dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 22,670 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment declined 4%: 38,042 students in SY 2020-21 versus 36,561 in SY 2024-25. Doñan Ana County now counts 77 public schools, down from 79 in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Doñan Ana County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data