Top Rankings
Carlsbad School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New Mexico for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 11 public elementary schools serving 6,893 students in Carlsbad School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in New Mexico.
Public Elementary Schools in Carlsbad School District have an average math proficiency score of 24% (versus the New Mexico public elementary school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 34% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Mexico public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NM)
# Schools
15 Schools
667 Schools
# Students
9,218 Students
210,405 Students
# Teachers
472 Teachers
15,329 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Carlsbad School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 143 school districts in New Mexico (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 67% has decreased from 75% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#71 out of 144 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
23%
24%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
32%
34%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
33%
Graduation Rate
(20-21)67%
66%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.51
0.57
% American Indian
1%
12%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
63%
61%
% Black
2%
2%
% White
32%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
3%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,432 is higher than the state median of $14,756. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,301 is less than the state median of $14,121. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$142 MM
$4,694 MM
Spending
$104 MM
$4,492 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,432
$14,756
Spending / Student
$11,301
$14,121
Best Carlsbad School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Ocotillo Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2106 Captain Williams Ln
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 628-4498
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 628-4498
Grades: K-5
| 711 students
Rank: #22.
Monterrey Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1600 Johnson St
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3309
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3309
Grades: K-5
| 345 students
Rank: #33.
Sunset Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
923 North Walter St
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Grades: K-5
| 419 students
Rank: #44.
Pecos Connections Academy
(Math: 24% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1503 West Pierce Street
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 236-4005
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 236-4005
Grades: K-12
| 1,887 students
Rank: #55.
Desert Willow Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2100 Primrose St
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3310
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3310
Grades: K-5
| 820 students
Rank: #66.
Jefferson Montessori
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
101 South Canal St
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Grades: K-12
| 258 students
Rank: #77.
Carlsbad Intermediate School - Pr Leyva Campus
(Math: 18% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
800 West Church St
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Grades: 6-8
| 834 students
Rank: #88.
Carlsbad Sixth Grade Academy - Alta Vista Campus
(Math: 21% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
301 South Alta Vista St
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Grades: 6-8
| 714 students
Rank: #99.
Cottonwood Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1609 W Lea Street
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3304
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3304
Grades: K-5
| 671 students
Rank: #1010.
Carlsbad Enrichment Center
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
406 N. Alameda Street
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Grades: 1-12
| 234 students
Rank: n/an/a
406 N. Alameda Street
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 628-4498
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 628-4498
Grades: 1-5
| n/a students
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