ZIA MIDDLE

ZIA MIDDLE is a large middle-grades school in LAS CRUCES, New Mexico, part of LAS CRUCES. The school works with 616 students in grades 6 through 8. By comparison, New Mexico's public schools average about 335 students each, so ZIA MIDDLE sits 84% larger than that benchmark.

Across the 39 schools in LAS CRUCES (22,670 students total), ZIA MIDDLE accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, ZIA MIDDLE logs that nearly all students (80%) are Hispanic. The remainder is composed of 16% White. That is visibly more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 68%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Staff filings list 60 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 10.3:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 12.5:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. An estimated 100% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), ZIA MIDDLE sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 33.4%; this one delivers 30.0%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Doñan Ana County) records that median household earnings sit near $56,848, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 19% of residents live below the federal poverty line. ZIA MIDDLE is one of 81 public schools in Doñan Ana County (combined enrollment of about 36,561 students).

The closest other public school is RIO GRANDE PREPARATORY INSTITUTE, roughly 0.5 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts ZIA MIDDLE at 5th of 6; the average score across the group is 39.5%.

Geographically, the school is in a commuter-belt area.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at ZIA MIDDLE has shrank 12%, going from 701 students in 2018 to 616 in 2025. Class-load math has pulled in: from 16.4:1 in 2018 to 10.3:1 in 2025.

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