Best Schools in Dona Ana County, NM
Dona Ana County, NM has 86 public schools (16 high, 14 middle, 49 elementary) serving 38,306 students. On average they score 33% on state proficiency tests against a projected 31%, so schools in Dona Ana County exceed expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Dona Ana County, NM
The top high schools in Dona Ana County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Alta Vista Early College High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 201 Students
2. Centennial High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1615 Students
3. Organ Mountain High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1980 Students
4. Las Cruces High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1787 Students
5. Hatch Valley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hatch Valley Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 380 Students
6. Mayfield High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1421 Students
7. Santa Teresa High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1198 Students
8. Gadsden High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1322 Students
9. Chaparral High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1067 Students
10. New America School - Las Cruces
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
New America School - Las Cruces • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 170 Students
Best Middle Schools in Dona Ana County, NM
The top middle schools in Dona Ana County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 100 Students
2. Camino Real Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 965 Students
3. Sierra Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 799 Students
4. Explore Academy Las Cruces
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Explore Academy Las Cruces • Charter • Grades KG - 11 • 189 Students
5. Vista Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 602 Students
6. Mesa Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 803 Students
7. Hatch Valley Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hatch Valley Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 262 Students
8. Zia Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 688 Students
9. Gadsden Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 661 Students
10. Santa Teresa Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 625 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Dona Ana County, NM
The top elementary schools in Dona Ana County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Desert Hills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 559 Students
2. White Sands Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 275 Students
3. J Paul Taylor Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
J Paul Taylor Academy • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 198 Students
4. Sonoma Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 748 Students
5. North Valley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 265 Students
6. Mesilla Park Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 353 Students
7. Anthony Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 324 Students
8. Hillrise Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 446 Students
9. La Union Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gadsden Independent Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 366 Students
10. Mesilla Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Las Cruces Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 275 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Dona Ana County, NM
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Dona Ana County, NM has a total population of 219,561 with 31% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 83%, and 32% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Dona Ana County, NM
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Dona Ana County, NM.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
28.75 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
5.50 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
23.24 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Dona Ana County, NM.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Dona Ana County, NM.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Dona Ana County, NM Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Dona Ana County, NM
How many schools are in Dona Ana County, NM?
Dona Ana County, NM has 86 public schools: 16 high schools, 14 middle schools and 49 elementary schools, serving 38,306 students in total.
How do schools in Dona Ana County perform on state tests?
On average, 86 schools in Dona Ana County score 33% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 31%, so on average schools in Dona Ana County exceed expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Dona Ana County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Dona Ana County, NM
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 30%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 30%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 32%
- Projected: 28%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 35%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 37%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations