Total enrollment
15,126
+282 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Lea County
New Mexico · Public K-12
Lea County runs 38 public K-12 schools inside New Mexico, with the county population around 73,733. The mix is 21 elementary, 8 middle, and 9 high.
4-year change in Lea County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
38
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Lea County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Mexico | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 32.3% | #8 of 10 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 15,126 | #7 of 26 | #592 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 38 | #7 of 26 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.9:1 | #24 of 25 | #2,044 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 72.6% | #24 of 26 | #671 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 36.2% | #23 of 26 | #1,616 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.
Lea County school rankings
Residents
73,733
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
38
6 districts
Enrollment
15,126
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,015
Above New Mexico avg
Free/reduced lunch
72.6%
Below New Mexico avg
Elementary
21
7,183 students
Middle
8
3,252 students
High
9
4,691 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
HOBBS
10,097 students · 6 districts in Lea County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lea 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+
15.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.9%
civilian labor
Median age
33
29.5% under 18
Test scores in Lea County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 26 schools ranked. New Mexico state average: 44.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- TATUM JR HIGH· 62.0%
- MILLS ELEMENTARY· 53.7%
- BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY· 50.0%
- STONE ELEMENTARY· 49.0%
- HOUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL· 47.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- EDISON ELEMENTARY· 22.8%
- MURRAY ELEMENTARY· 24.6%
- HEIZER MIDDLE SCHOOL· 29.4%
- METTIE JORDAN ELEMENTARY· 30.3%
- WILL ROGERS ELEMENTARY· 30.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOBBS HIGH | Hobbs | High | 09-12 | 2,312 | · |
| HOUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | Hobbs | Middle | 06-09 | 822 | · |
| HIGHLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL | Hobbs | Middle | 06-08 | 808 | · |
| HOBBS FRESHMAN HIGH | Hobbs | High | 09-10 | 747 | · |
| LOVINGTON HIGH | Lovington | High | 10-12 | 746 | · |
| HEIZER MIDDLE SCHOOL | Hobbs | Middle | 06-08 | 606 | · |
| COLLEGE LANE ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | KG-05 | 532 | · |
| YARBRO ELEMENTARY | Lovington | Elementary | 04-05 | 474 | · |
| SOUTHERN HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 472 | · |
| TAYLOR MIDDLE | Lovington | Middle | 07-08 | 442 | · |
| LLANO ELEMENTARY | Lovington | Elementary | PK-KG | 435 | · |
| STONE ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 429 | · |
| TAYLOR ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 426 | · |
| CORONADO ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | KG-05 | 422 | · |
| MURRAY ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 422 | · |
| MILLS ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 411 | · |
| SANGER ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | KG-05 | 365 | · |
| METTIE JORDAN ELEMENTARY | Eunice | Elementary | PK-05 | 357 | · |
| BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 330 | · |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 316 | · |
| WILL ROGERS ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 297 | · |
| JAL ELEMENTARY | Jal | Elementary | PK-05 | 290 | · |
| LOVINGTON FRESHMAN ACADEMY | Lovington | High | 09-09 | 267 | · |
| BEN ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY | Lovington | Elementary | 02-02 | 238 | · |
| LOVINGTON 6TH GRADE ACADEMY | Lovington | Middle | 06-06 | 232 | · |
| LEA ELEMENTARY | Lovington | Elementary | 01-01 | 231 | · |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | Lovington | Elementary | 03-03 | 228 | · |
| EDISON ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 225 | · |
| EUNICE HIGH | Eunice | High | 09-12 | 221 | · |
| CATON MIDDLE | Eunice | Middle | 06-08 | 170 | · |
| JAL HIGH | Jal | High | 09-12 | 158 | · |
| BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY | Hobbs | Elementary | PK-05 | 155 | · |
| TATUM HIGH | Tatum | High | 09-12 | 129 | · |
| TATUM ELEMENTARY | Tatum | Elementary | PK-06 | 128 | · |
| JAL JR HIGH | Jal | Middle | 06-08 | 119 | · |
| NEW HOPE ALTERNATIVE HIGH | Lovington | High | 09-12 | 104 | · |
| TATUM JR HIGH | Tatum | Middle | 07-08 | 53 | · |
| LAE COUNTY CORRECTIONS | Hobbs | High | 08-12 | 7 | · |
Cities in Lea County
About Lea County
Lea County is an average-sized New Mexico county of about 73,733 residents, home to 38 public schools and roughly 15,126 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $68,015 a year, roughly 16% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 15% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 18% higher than the New Mexico median.
On the school-mix side, Lea County covers 21 elementary schools (7,183 students), 8 middle schools (3,252), and 9 high schools (4,691).
HOBBS is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 10,097 students across Lea County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Lea County has remained close to its prior level since SY 2020-21, moving from about 14,844 students to 15,126.
On allk12, the community for Lea County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data