DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY

DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY is an elementary school of expansive scale in CARLSBAD, New Mexico, part of CARLSBAD, enrolling 667 students in grades K through 5. Enrollment runs roughly 132% above the state mean of about 287.

CARLSBAD comprises 13 schools with combined enrollment of 7,217 students; DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY is among them.

On demographics, DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY lists that Hispanic students make up the majority at 74%. Beyond that, the school reports 22% White. By comparison, Eddy County as a whole is about 52% Hispanic, so the school skews noticeably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 45 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 15.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 12.9:1, putting DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY higher than the state norm the norm. Roughly 22% of students at DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is below Eddy County's rate of about 46%.

With demographic context factored in, DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 52.1%; this one delivers 43.2%.

Around the school, the surrounding county (Eddy County) shows that median household income runs about $78,426, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. In all, Eddy County runs 26 public schools (combined enrollment of about 11,661 students), of which DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY is one.

The closest other public school is CARLSBAD ENRICHMENT CENTER, roughly 2.1 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 6 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 35.0%.

The school occupies a town-based site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at DESERT WILLOW ELEMENTARY has showed little movement, going from 663 students in 2018 to 667 in 2025. Class-load math has narrowed: from 16.2:1 in 2018 to 15.0:1 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.