Top Rankings
Belen 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 8 public elementary schools serving 2,158 students in Belen School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in New Mexico.
Public Elementary Schools in Belen School District have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the New Mexico public elementary school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 34% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 82% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Mexico public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NM)
# Schools
11 Schools
667 Schools
# Students
3,818 Students
210,385 Students
# Teachers
243 Teachers
15,336 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Belen 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 75% has increased from 64% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#78 out of 144 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
26%
24%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
29%
34%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
25%
33%
Graduation Rate
(20-21)75%
66%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.36
0.57
# American Indian Students
77 Students
25,510 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
12%
# Asian Students
9 Students
2,751 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
1%
# Hispanic Students
2,992 Students
128,903 Students
% Hispanic Students
78%
61%
# Black Students
38 Students
3,786 Students
% Black Students
1%
2%
# White Students
678 Students
43,881 Students
% White Students
18%
21%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
253 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
24 Students
5,301 Students
% of Two or more races Students
1%
3%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
73
7,253
# Students in K Grade:
304
19,133
# Students in 1st Grade:
294
21,570
# Students in 2nd Grade:
337
22,782
# Students in 3rd Grade:
304
22,089
# Students in 4th Grade:
274
22,668
# Students in 5th Grade:
273
23,142
# Students in 6th Grade:
248
23,235
# Students in 7th Grade:
299
18,046
# Students in 8th Grade:
245
18,235
# Students in 9th Grade:
330
3,636
# Students in 10th Grade:
308
3,245
# Students in 11th Grade:
280
2,726
# Students in 12th Grade:
249
2,625
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,530 in this school district is less than the state median of $14,757. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,522 is less than the state median of $14,122. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$56 MM
$4,694 MM

Spending
$44 MM
$4,492 MM

Revenue / Student
$14,530
$14,757

Spending / Student
$11,522
$14,122

Best Belen School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Belen Family School
Alternative School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4 Eastside School Road
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2270
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2270
Grades: 1-8
| 139 students
Rank: #22.
Gil Sanchez Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
376 Jarales Rd
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1900
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1900
Grades: PK-6
| 304 students
Rank: #33.
Rio Grande Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
15 Eastside School Rd
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2200
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2200
Grades: PK-6
| 359 students
Rank: #44.
Dennis Chavez Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
19670 Hwy 314
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1800
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1800
Grades: PK-6
| 281 students
Rank: #55.
La Merced Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
301 Alame Loop
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2100
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2100
Grades: PK-6
| 433 students
Rank: #66.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
600 W. Picard Ave
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1200
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1200
Grades: 4-6
| 183 students
Rank: #77.
Jaramillo Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
900 Esperanza Dr
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2001
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2001
Grades: PK-3
| 254 students
Rank: #88.
La Promesa Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
898 Hwy 304
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2400
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2400
Grades: PK-6
| 205 students
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