Total enrollment
16,807
+3,901 (+30%) vs SY 2017-18
McKinley County
New Mexico · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary campus, McKinley County's 53 public schools collectively enroll about 16,807 K-12 students, with Gallup the heaviest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 28 elementary, 8 middle, and 15 high schools.
7-year change in McKinley County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
53
+12 (+29%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
53
18 districts
Enrollment
16,807
NCES CCD
Median income
$47,668
Below New Mexico avg
Free/reduced lunch
85.1%
Below New Mexico avg
Elementary
28
7,219 students
Middle
8
3,111 students
High
15
5,691 students
Combined / other
2
786 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
GALLUP
12,698 students · 18 districts in McKinley County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of McKinley 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+
13.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
28.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.0%
civilian labor
Median age
35
27.1% under 18
Test scores in McKinley County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 27 schools ranked. New Mexico state average: 44.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- RED ROCK ELEMENTARY· 56.4%
- CHEE DODGE ELEMENTARY· 43.4%
- HOZHO ACADEMY· 42.9%
- INDIAN HILLS ELEMENTARY· 41.0%
- ZUNI MIDDLE· 39.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- RAMAH ELEMENTARY· 18.7%
- THOREAU ELEMENTARY· 25.2%
- NAVAJO ELEMENTARY· 25.7%
- TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY· 26.2%
- NAVAJO MIDDLE SCHOOL· 26.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GALLUP CENTRAL ALTERNATIVE | Gallup | High | 06-12 | 1,244 | · |
| MIYAMURA HIGH SCHOOL | Gallup | High | 09-12 | 1,237 | · |
| GALLUP HIGH | Gallup | High | 09-12 | 796 | · |
| HOZHO ACADEMY | Gallup | Combined | PK-11 | 781 | · |
| JOHN F. KENNEDY MIDDLE | Gallup | Middle | 06-08 | 648 | · |
| CHIEF MANUELITO MIDDLE | Gallup | Middle | 06-08 | 634 | · |
| GALLUP MIDDLE | Gallup | Middle | 06-08 | 480 | · |
| JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 460 | · |
| SHIWI TS'ANA ELEMENTARY | Zuni | Elementary | PK-05 | 447 | · |
| DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 424 | · |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 414 | · |
| TOBE TURPEN ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 397 | · |
| THOREAU HIGH | Thoreau | High | 09-12 | 389 | · |
| Wingate Elementary School | Ft. Wingate | Elementary | KG-08 | 366 | · |
| THOREAU MIDDLE | Thoreau | Middle | 06-08 | 362 | · |
| Wingate High School | Fort Wingate | High | 09-12 | 362 | · |
| THOREAU ELEMENTARY | Thoreau | Elementary | PK-05 | 359 | · |
| STAGECOACH ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 340 | · |
| CATHERINE A. MILLER ELEMENTARY | Church Rock | Elementary | PK-05 | 317 | · |
| RED ROCK ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 311 | · |
| NAVAJO ELEMENTARY | Navajo | Elementary | PK-05 | 310 | · |
| TOHATCHI MIDDLE | Tohatchi | Middle | 06-08 | 297 | · |
| ZUNI HIGH | Zuni | High | 09-12 | 295 | · |
| INDIAN HILLS ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 294 | · |
| CROWNPOINT ELEMENTARY | Crownpoint | Elementary | PK-05 | 281 | · |
| CROWNPOINT HIGH | Crownpoint | High | 09-12 | 279 | · |
| TOHATCHI HIGH | Tohatchi | High | 09-12 | 279 | · |
| T'iis Ts'ozi Bi'Olta' Community School | Crownpoint | Elementary | KG-08 | 278 | · |
| RAMAH HIGH | Ramah | High | 06-12 | 269 | · |
| CHEE DODGE ELEMENTARY | Yah Ta Hey | Elementary | PK-05 | 261 | · |
| TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY | Gallup | Elementary | PK-05 | 256 | · |
| TOHATCHI ELEMENTARY | Tohatchi | Elementary | PK-05 | 246 | · |
| ZUNI MIDDLE | Zuni | Middle | 06-08 | 240 | · |
| DAVID SKEET ELEMENTARY | Vanderwagen | Elementary | PK-05 | 232 | · |
| CROWNPOINT MIDDLE | Crownpoint | Middle | 06-08 | 226 | · |
| NAVAJO MIDDLE SCHOOL | Navajo | Middle | 06-08 | 224 | · |
| RAMAH ELEMENTARY | Ramah | Elementary | PK-05 | 223 | · |
| Baca/Dlo'ay Azhi Community School | Prewitt | Elementary | KG-06 | 222 | · |
| Ch'ooshgai Community School | Tohatchi | Elementary | KG-08 | 208 | · |
| MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL CHARTER - GALLUP | Gallup | High | 09-12 | 153 | · |
| Ojo Encino Day School | Cuba | Elementary | KG-08 | 142 | · |
| NAVAJO PINE HIGH | Navajo | High | 09-12 | 140 | · |
| Pueblo Pintado Community School | Cuba | Elementary | KG-08 | 128 | · |
| TWIN BUTTES CYBER ACADEMY | Zuni | High | 07-12 | 70 | · |
| Mariano Lake Community School | Crownpoint | Elementary | KG-06 | 68 | · |
| TSE YI GAI HIGH | Pueblo Pintado | High | 06-12 | 64 | · |
| Tse'ii'ahi' Community School | Crownpoint | Elementary | KG-04 | 62 | · |
| Bread Springs Day School | Gallup | Elementary | KG-03 | 61 | · |
| Dibe Yazhi Habitiin Olta' Inc. | Crownpoint | Elementary | KG-08 | 58 | · |
| SIX DIRECTIONS INDIGENOUS SCHOOL | Gallup | High | 06-12 | 58 | · |
| DZIT DIT LOOL SCHOOL OF EMPOWERMENT ACTION AND PERSEVERANCE | Navajo | High | 06-12 | 56 | · |
| Chi Chil'tah Community School | Vanderwagen | Elementary | KG-08 | 54 | · |
| EDUCATION DEV CENTER | Gallup | Combined | PK-12 | 5 | · |
Cities in McKinley County
Gallup18 schoolsCrownpoint4 schoolsNavajo4 schoolsZuni4 schoolsCrownpoint3 schoolsThoreau3 schoolsTohatchi3 schoolsCuba2 schoolsRamah2 schoolsChurch Rock1 schoolFort Wingate1 schoolFt. Wingate1 schoolGallup1 schoolPrewitt1 schoolPueblo Pintado1 schoolTohatchi1 schoolVanderwagen1 schoolVanderwagen1 schoolYah Ta Hey1 school
About McKinley County
In New Mexico, McKinley County is a mid-sized county of about 70,431 residents. 53 public schools across the county instructs about 16,807 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $47,668, roughly 13% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 28% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 17% meaningfully below the New Mexico median.
In terms of grade levels, McKinley County is made up of 28 elementary schools (7,219 students), 8 middle schools (3,111), 15 high schools (5,691), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in McKinley County is GALLUP, which alone enrolls about 12,698 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in McKinley County has climbed 30% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 12,906 students to 16,807. Over that span, McKinley County gained 12 schools, going from 41 to 53.
On this page, the community for McKinley County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
McKinley County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data