Top Rankings
Portales School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New Mexico for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 1,114 students in Portales 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 Portales School District have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the New Mexico public elementary school average of 26%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 34% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 72% 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
6 Schools
667 Schools
# Students
2,570 Students
210,405 Students
# Teachers
30 Teachers
15,329 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
86:1
86:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Portales School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 140 school districts in New Mexico (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 77% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#48 out of 141 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
26%
24%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
34%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
37%
33%
Graduation Rate
(20-21)80-84%
66%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.48
0.57
% American Indian
1%
12%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
68%
61%
% Black
2%
2%
% White
26%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
3%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,842 in this school district is less 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 $13,630 is less than the state median of $14,121. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$36 MM
$4,694 MM
Spending
$35 MM
$4,492 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,842
$14,756
Spending / Student
$13,630
$14,121
Best Portales School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lindsey-steiner Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1000 North Ave M
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 356-7060
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 356-7060
Gr: 5-6 | 382 students Student-teacher ratio: 76:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #22.
Valencia Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1415 South Globe
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 356-7090
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 356-7090
Gr: 3-4 | 357 students Student-teacher ratio: 89:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: n/an/a
701 West 18th St
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 359-3675
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 359-3675
Gr: 1-2 | 375 students Student-teacher ratio: 94:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Recent Articles

2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
A 2025 update on U.S. classroom sizes, policy battles, student outcomes, and whether class sizes continue to expand.

Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Explore how personalized learning is reshaping education in 2025—insights, policy, impact, and real-world models for students, parents, and educators.

How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
Explore how bullying harms student achievement, attendance, and well-being — and strategies schools use in 2025 to mitigate its effects.