Public education in New Mexico

in New Mexico

Fiscal Budgets New Mexico state budget and finances Tax policy in New Mexico Finance Financial regulation in New Mexico Pensions Public pensions in New Mexico Pension health in New Mexico Civil liberties Affirmative action in New Mexico Campaign finance requirements in New Mexico Campaign finance requirements for New Mexico ballot measures Nonprofit regulation in New Mexico Education Charter schools in New Mexico Higher education in New Mexico Public education in New Mexico School choice in New Mexico Elections Ballot access Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New Mexico Ballot access requirements for political parties in New Mexico Political parties in New Mexico Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in New Mexico Redistricting in New Mexico Voting in New Mexico Energy and Environment Energy policy in New Mexico Fracking in New Mexico Oil and gas extraction on federal land in New Mexico Endangered species in New Mexico Environmental policy in New Mexico Healthcare Healthcare policy in New Mexico Medicaid spending in New Mexico Effect of the Affordable Care Act in New Mexico Immigration Immigration in New Mexico

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K-12 education in New Mexico

Education facts

State superintendent: Kurt Steinhaus

Number of students: 338,220

Number of teachers: 22,201

Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:15

Number of school districts: 89

Number of schools: 877

Graduation rate: 70.3%

Per-pupil spending: $9,012

See also

New Mexico Public Education Department • List of school districts in New Mexico • New Mexico • School boards portal

Public education in the United States Public education in New Mexico Glossary of education terms

Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given are the most recent as of June 2015, with school years noted in the text or footnotes.

The New Mexico public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2013 New Mexico had 338,220 students enrolled in a total of 877 schools in 146 school districts. There were 22,201 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 15 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. There was roughly one administrator for every 264 students, compared to the national average of one administrator for every 295 students. On average New Mexico spent $9,012 per pupil in 2013, which ranked it 38th highest in the nation. The state's graduation rate was 70.3 percent in 2013.^[1][2][3]

Common Core[edit]

Common Core, or the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is an American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school. The New Mexico Public Education Department adopted these standards on November 29, 2010.^[4] In addition to the Common Core State Standards, New Mexico added state-specific standards that focused on culturally relevant texts and instruction. The standards were phased in starting in 2012 and were scheduled to be fully implemented by 2015.^[5]

Although New Mexico had not passed any legislation repealing or limiting the power of Common Core as of July 2015, there was a significant showing of opposition in March 2015. Hundreds of New Mexico students walked out of school to protest Common Core testing, arguing that the tests detracted from their overall education and that test results do not represent accurate evaluations of educators.^[6]

General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how New Mexico compared to three neighboring states with respect to the number of students, schools, teachers per pupil and administrators per pupil for the 2012-2013 school year. The chart also displays that information at the national level. Compared to its neighboring states, New Mexico had the lowest teacher-to-student ratio (about 1:15) and the lowest administrator-to-student ratio (about 1:263).

Further comparisons between these states with respect to performance and financial information are given in other sections of this page.

Schools by type[edit]

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School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

Of the 98,454 schools in the United States, 89,031 were classified as regular schools. After regular schools, magnet schools and charter schools were the most prevalent non-traditional schools in the country, at 6,079 and 5,986, respectively.

The table below breaks down each of the different types of schools in New Mexico and nearby states. Also listed are the numbers of schools in each state that are classified as "Title I" schools. These are public schools that have been specially targeted to correct achievement gaps in public schools.^[7]

In New Mexico, there were 829 regular schools as of 2013. Charter schools were the second most prevalent type of school in the state, with 94 schools classified as such.

Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographic information for all students in all 50 states

The following table displays the ethnic distribution of students in New Mexico as reported in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data for 2012-2013.^[8]

During the 2012-2013 school year, just over half of all students in K-12 public schools nationwide were white. About a quarter of the students in the country were Hispanic, with black students making up about 16 percent of the student population.

In New Mexico, the majority of students were Hispanic. Hispanic students totaled 202,620, which was about 60 percent of the student population in the state. There were 86,359 white students in New Mexico, accounting for about 25.5 percent of the student population.

Enrollments by region type[edit]

See also: Student distribution by region type in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 percent of all public school students in the country attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. About 40 percent attended suburban schools. Approximately 11.5 percent of all students attended schools in towns, while about 18.7 percent attended rural schools.^[9]

A plurality of students in New Mexico attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 48.7 percent of the state's students attended city or suburban schools, compared to the approximately 51.2 percent who attended rural or town schools.

Academic performance[edit]

Education terms
For more information on education policy terms, see this article.
School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Arizona, Colorado, and Utah), New Mexico had the lowest percentage of students score at or above proficient nearly every category.^[10]

Graduation, ACT and SAT scores[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for New Mexico and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.^[10][11][12]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.^[13]

New Mexico schools reported a graduation rate of 70.3 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, lowest among its neighboring states.

In New Mexico, more students took the ACT than the SAT in 2013, earning an average ACT score of 19.9.

Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for New Mexico was higher than the national average at 5.0 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 5.9 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.^[14]

Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in New Mexico

As of June 2015 school choice options in New Mexico included charter schools, homeschooling, online learning, private schools and multiple public school open enrollment policies.

Developments[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.^[15]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.^[16]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

New Mexico is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: New Mexico state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.^[17][18]

New Mexico spent approximately 19.5 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. The state school systems' revenue came primarily from state funds. New Mexico's per pupil spending was the highest among its neighboring states.

Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.^[18]

In New Mexico, the primary source of school system revenue came from state sources during fiscal year 2013, at $2.4 billion. New Mexico reported the lowest total public education revenue when compared to its neighboring states.

Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.^[19]

Public education expenditures in New Mexico totaled approximately $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2012. New Mexico reported the lowest total public education expenditures when compared to its neighboring states.

Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in New Mexico, the average salary increased by 4.7 percent.^[21]

Organizations[edit]

State agencies[edit]

See also: New Mexico Department of Education

The New Mexico Public Education Department is led by the New Mexico Secretary of Education. Hanna Skandera began serving in that role in 2010.^[22]

The New Mexico Public Education Commission is composed of 10 members, elected from state districts. They serve staggered, four-year terms. As a partner to the New Mexico Public Education Department, the Public Education Commission works in three committees: the Public Education Department's Strategic Plan, Charter Schools and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical federal fund for career technical programs.^[23]

The vision statement of both the New Mexico Public Education Department and the New Mexico Public Education Commission reads:^[23]

Unions[edit]

In 2012, the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. New Mexico ranked 37th overall for union power and influence, or "weak," which was in the fourth tier of five.^[25]

The main unions related to the New Mexico school system are the National Education Association of New Mexico, an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), and AFT New Mexico, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. The National Education Association of New Mexico is the largest education association in the state.

List of local New Mexico school unions:^[26]

• National Education Association of New Mexico
• AFT New Mexico
• AFT Albuquerque
• Albuquerque Educational Assistants Association
• AFT Anthony
• AFT Gallup
• AFT Arroyo Hondo

Taxpayer-funded lobbying[edit]

See also: New Mexico government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the New Mexico School Boards Association.

Transparency[edit]

As of 2009, New Mexico did not have a statewide spending transparency database. The Albuquerque Journal had several lists of the salaries of top state officials on their Watchdog resources page. A listing of the New Mexico state payroll from 2009 is posted here.

In 2009, Senate Bill 159, known as the "Budget Transparency Act," passed the New Mexico State Senate. However, it died in committee in the spring of 2009. It was introduced by Sen. Sander Rue.^[27][28]

Studies and reports[edit]

Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

New Mexico received a score of 66.6, or a D+ average in the "chance for success" category. This was below the national average. The state's highest score was in "standards, assessments and accountability" at 92.0, or an A- average. The lowest score was in "K-12 achievement" at 60.3, or a D- average. New Mexico tied for the 15th highest score for the "standards, assessments and accountability" category in the country. The chart below displays the scores of New Mexico and its surrounding states.^[29]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

District types[edit]

New Mexico contains only traditional school districts. Districts may levy ad valorem taxes without voter approval. With voter approval, districts can issue general obligation bonds. With approval from the state board of education, districts may also issue revenue bonds.^[30]

School board composition[edit]

New Mexico school board members are generally elected by residents of the school district, although some school board members may be appointed. New Mexico school board elections typically follow one of these two methods, or a mixture thereof:

• At-large: All voters residing in the school district may vote for any candidates running, regardless of geographic location.
• District: Only voters residing in a specific geographic area within the school district may vote on certain candidates, who must also reside in that specific geographic area.

Districts with a population of more than 16,000 residents must follow the district method of election, while districts with a population below 16,000 residents can choose between the two election processes.

School boards can consist of five or seven members. School board members serve four-year terms, which are staggered every two years.^[31]

Term limits[edit]

New Mexico does not impose statewide term limits on school board members.^[32]

Elections[edit]

See also: New Mexico school board elections, 2021

Editor's note: Some school districts choose to cancel the primary election, or both the primary and general election, if the number of candidates who filed does not meet a certain threshold. The table below does not reflect which primary or general elections were canceled. Please click through to each school district's page for more information.

Path to the ballot[edit]

To qualify for the ballot as a school board candidate in New Mexico, a person must be:

• A "qualified elector" in the state and school district
• A resident of the geographic district in which they are running, if they are running in a school board election using the district election process instead of an at-large election process

The process of running for office as a school board candidate begins with filing a "declaration of candidacy" form with the appropriate election authority by the close of business on the third Tuesday of December in the even-numbered year preceding the election. Candidates may withdraw from the race or file as write-in candidates as long as they file the appropriate form prior to the close of business on the 35th day preceding the election.^[33]

Campaign finance[edit]

New Mexico school board candidates running in districts with student enrollment over 12,000 residents must file one campaign finance report with the New Mexico Secretary of State prior to the second Tuesday in April each year.^[34]

Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the New Mexico state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of New Mexico ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. New Mexico Amendment 1, Creation of a Public Education Commission (September 2003)
2. New Mexico Amendment 2, Public Education Funding Act (September 2003)
3. New Mexico Amendment 2 (1996)
4. New Mexico Ballot Proposal: Board of Regents Membership (1986)
5. New Mexico Ballot Proposal: Expand State Board of Education (1986)
6. New Mexico Ballot Proposal: Fund Management (1990)
7. New Mexico Ballot Proposal: Issuance of Bonds for Educational Institutions (1984)
8. New Mexico Ballot Proposal: Recall of School Board Members (1986)
9. New Mexico Bond Act: Educational Capital Improvements (1986)
10. New Mexico Bond Question: Education Capital Expenditures (1988)
11. New Mexico Bond Question D, Higher Education, Special Schools, and Tribal Schools (2018)
12. New Mexico Capital Expenditures for Higher, Tribal and Special Education, Bond Question C (2014)
13. New Mexico Dates for School Elections, Amendment 1 (2014)
14. New Mexico Higher Education Capital Improvements and Acquisitions Bonds, Question B (2006)
15. New Mexico Higher Education and Special Schools Bonds, Bond Question C (2012)
16. New Mexico Land Grant Permanent Fund Distribution for Early Childhood Education Amendment (2022)
17. New Mexico Proposed Amendment, Elected State Board of Education (1958)
18. New Mexico Proposed Amendment, New Mexico Educational Institutions Board (1942)
19. New Mexico Proposed Amendment, School Bond Issues, Remodeling and Additions (1964)
20. New Mexico Proposed Amendment, Western New Mexico University, Name Change (1964)
21. New Mexico Proposed Amendment 1, Local School Board Recall (1994)
22. New Mexico Proposed Amendment 2, Five-member State Board of Education (1930)
23. New Mexico Proposed Amendment 3, Student Regent (1994)
24. New Mexico Proposed Amendment 4, Staggered Terms for Educational Boards of Regents (1942)
25. New Mexico Referendum: Board of Regents of State Educational Institutions (1970)
26. New Mexico Referendum: Creation of Student Loans for the Healing Arts (1974)
27. New Mexico Referendum: Number of School Board Members in Large Districts (1980)
28. New Mexico Referendum: School Fund Levy (1970)
29. New Mexico Referendum: Student Loan Programs (1970)
30. New Mexico School Board, Amendment 1 (2008)
31. New Mexico Student on Board of Regents, Amendment 2 (2014)

In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Mexico education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also[edit]

• Historical public education information in New Mexico
• New Mexico state budget and finances
• New Mexico Department of Education
• List of school districts in New Mexico
• School choice in New Mexico
• Charter schools in New Mexico
• New Mexico
• Education Policy in the U.S.

External links[edit]

• New Mexico Public Education Department
• New Mexcio Public Education Commission
• New Mexico School Performance Standards
• New Mexico AYP Results
• New Mexico Graduation Rates
• New Mexico Charter Schools
• New Mexico School Public Records Requests
• New Mexico Public School Ratings by PSK12
• New Mexico Public School Ratings by Great Schools

Footnotes[edit]

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