Desert Hills Elementary School (Ranked Top 10% for 2026)

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Desert Hills Elementary School

280 North Roadrunner Pkwy
Las Cruces, NM 88001

( shown in map)

10/

Top 10%

Serving 539 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Desert Hills Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in New Mexico for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).

The percentage of students achieving is 45% (which is higher than the New Mexico state average of 24%). The percentage of students achieving is 56% (which is higher than the New Mexico state average of 34%).

The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the New Mexico state level of 13:1.

Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the New Mexico state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 539 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 76%
: Top 10% in NM
: 45% (Top 20%)
: 56% (Top 10%)
: 60-64% (Top 10%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NM Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Desert Hills Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in New Mexico for:

Category

Attribute

Overall Rank

Highest overall rank (Top 10%)

Math Proficiency

Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)

Reading/Language Arts Proficiency

Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)

Science Proficiency

Highest science proficiency (Top 10%)

Percent Eligible For Free Lunch

Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 1%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

Desert Hills Elementary School's student population of 539 students has declined by 12% over five school years.

The teacher population of 37 teachers has declined by 11% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Desert Hills Elementary School
Pre-K	47
Kind	71
1	67
2	87
3	75
4	90
5	102

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Total Students

539 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School
2023	559
2022	581
2021	616
2020	676
2019	676
2018	670
2017	670
2016	674
2015	607
2014	573
2013	534
2012	561
2011	557
2010	715
2009	673
2008	639
2007	609
2006	742
2005	642
2004	590
2003	532
2002	517
2001	487
2000	461
1999	621
1998	547
1997	536
1996	532

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

37 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School
2023	40
2022	40
2021	42
2020	40
2019	40
2018	41
2017	41
2016	41
2015	40
2014	36
2013	36
2012	36
2011	36
2010	40
2009	40
2008	39
2007	38
2006	42
2005	38
2004	37
2003	32
2002	29
2001	29
2000	31
1999	34
1998	33
1997	34
1996	27

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

Desert Hills Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 796 schools in New Mexico (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Desert Hills Elementary School is 0.51, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.56. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (NM)

#63 out of 796 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School
2023	#63
2022	#137
2019	#71
2018	#61
2017	#74
2016	#87
2015	#120
2014	#55
2013	#40
2012	#81
2011	#63

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45%

24%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	45%	24%	23%
2022	34%	24%	22%
2019	46%	21%	18%
2018	48%	22%
2017	45%	21%	20%
2016	41%	21%	20%
2015	29%	18%	17%
2014	65%	41%	42%
2013	67%	42%	41%
2012	62%	43%	41%
2011	63%	42%	39%

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56%

34%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2022	56%	34%	33%
2019	53%	33%	33%
2017	50%	30%	30%
2016	48%	28%	27%
2015	42%	27%	25%
2014	73%	49%	52%
2013	76%	51%	52%
2012	71%	51%	53%
2011	72%	50%	49%
2010	71%	53%	51%

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60-64%

33%

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	14:1	14:1	15:1
2022	15:1	14:1	16:1
2021	15:1	14:1	16:1
2020	17:1	15:1	17:1
2019	17:1	15:1	17:1
2018	16:1	16:1	17:1
2017	16:1	15:1	17:1
2016	16:1	15:1	16:1
2015	15:1	15:1	15:1
2014	16:1	15:1	16:1
2013	15:1	15:1	16:1
2012	16:1	15:1	16:1
2011	15:1	15:1	16:1
2010	18:1	15:1	16:1
2009	17:1	14:1	15:1
2008	16:1	14:1	16:1
2007	16:1	15:1	15:1
2006	18:1	14:1	15:1
2005	17:1	15:1	15:1
2004	16:1	15:1	15:1
2003	17:1	15:1	15:1
2002	18:1	15:1	16:1
2001	17:1	15:1	16:1
2000	15:1	15:1	16:1
1999	18:1	16:1	16:1
1998	17:1	16:1	16:1
1997	16:1	16:1	17:1
1996	20:1	17:1	18:1

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American Indian

12%

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	1%	12%	1%
2022	1%	12%	1%
2021	1%	12%	1%
2020	1%	12%	1%
2019	1%	12%	1%
2018	1%	13%
2017	1%	13%
2016	1%	10%
2013	1%	11%	1%
2011	1%	13%	1%
2010	1%	13%	1%
2008	1%	11%	2%
2006	1%	14%	1%
2005	1%	12%	2%
2003	1%	15%	1%
2002	1%	15%	1%
2001	1%	14%	1%
2000	1%	15%	1%
1999	3%	11%	1%
1998	1%	11%	1%
1997	1%	11%	2%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	4%	1%	1%
2022	4%	1%	1%
2021	3%	1%	1%
2020	2%	1%	1%
2019	2%	1%	1%
2018	2%	1%	1%
2017	2%	1%	1%
2016	1%	1%
2015	1%	1%	3%
2014	2%	1%	1%
2013	3%	1%	1%
2012	5%	1%	1%
2011	5%	1%	1%
2010	5%	1%	1%
2009	6%	1%	1%
2008	5%	1%	1%
2007	5%	1%	1%
2006	3%	1%	1%
2005	3%	1%	1%
2004	3%	1%	1%
2003	2%	1%	1%
2002	3%	1%	1%
2001	3%	1%	1%
1999	1%	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%	1%

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Hispanic

66%

62%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	61%	62%	78%
2022	62%	62%	78%
2021	61%	62%	77%
2020	59%	60%	76%
2019	59%	60%	76%
2018	56%	60%	76%
2017	56%	60%	76%
2016	58%	61%	77%
2015	58%	61%	71%
2014	56%	61%	75%
2013	57%	60%	75%
2012	55%	59%	74%
2011	51%	58%	73%
2010	44%	58%	72%
2009	42%	55%	71%
2008	39%	56%	71%
2007	39%	55%	70%
2006	43%	53%	71%
2005	38%	53%	69%
2004	39%	51%	68%
2003	39%	50%	68%
2002	37%	49%	67%
2001	37%	49%	66%
2000	45%	49%	65%
1999	54%	49%	63%
1998	55%	48%	63%
1997	54%	48%	61%
1996	50%	47%	60%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	2%	2%	2%
2022	1%	2%	2%
2021	2%	2%	2%
2020	2%	2%	2%
2019	2%	2%	2%
2018	5%	2%	3%
2017	5%	2%	3%
2016	5%	2%	3%
2015	5%	2%	3%
2014	5%	2%	3%
2013	5%	2%	3%
2012	6%	2%	2%
2011	4%	2%	3%
2010	5%	2%	3%
2009	4%	3%	2%
2008	4%	3%	2%
2007	3%	3%	2%
2006	4%	2%	2%
2005	4%	2%	2%
2004	3%	2%	2%
2003	4%	2%	2%
2002	6%	2%	2%
2001	3%	2%	2%
2000	2%	1%	2%
1999	2%	2%	2%
1998	2%	2%	2%
1997	2%	2%	2%
1996	3%	2%	2%

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White

24%

20%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	28%	21%	17%
2022	29%	21%	18%
2021	31%	21%	18%
2020	32%	23%	19%
2019	32%	23%	19%
2018	34%	22%	20%
2017	34%	22%	20%
2016	30%	24%	20%
2015	32%	24%	20%
2014	31%	25%	20%
2013	30%	25%	20%
2012	30%	26%	21%
2011	37%	25%	22%
2010	45%	25%	23%
2009	48%	28%	24%
2008	51%	29%	24%
2007	53%	30%	25%
2006	49%	30%	25%
2005	54%	32%	26%
2004	55%	32%	27%
2003	54%	32%	28%
2002	53%	33%	29%
2001	56%	34%	30%
2000	49%	35%	31%
1999	40%	37%	33%
1998	42%	38%	33%
1997	42%	38%	34%
1996	44%	39%	35%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	3%	2%	1%
2022	2%	2%
2021	1%	2%	1%
2020	2%	2%	1%
2019	2%	2%	1%
2016	1%	2%
2015	1%	2%
2014	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.51

0.56

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	0.55	0.56	0.36
2022	0.53	0.56	0.37
2021	0.54	0.56	0.37
2020	0.55	0.58	0.39
2019	0.55	0.58	0.39
2018	0.57	0.58	0.39
2017	0.57	0.58	0.39
2016	0.57	0.57	0.39
2015	0.56	0.57	0.41
2014	0.59	0.56	0.39
2013	0.60	0.57	0.40
2012	0.61	0.58	0.41
2011	0.60	0.59	0.42
2010	0.61	0.59	0.43
2009	0.59	0.61	0.44
2008	0.59	0.60	0.44
2007	0.57	0.60	0.45
2006	0.58	0.62	0.44
2005	0.57	0.61	0.45
2004	0.55	0.62	0.46
2003	0.56	0.63	0.46
2002	0.58	0.64	0.47
2001	0.55	0.63	0.48
2000	0.57	0.64	0.49
1999	0.56	0.62	0.50
1998	0.57	0.62	0.50
1997	0.54	0.62	0.52
1996	0.56	0.62	0.52

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

93%

74%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2023	100%	75%	85%
2022	100%	74%	81%
2021	100%	73%	82%
2020	37%	70%	71%
2019	37%	70%	71%
2018	30%	69%	70%
2017	30%	69%	70%
2016	36%	67%	62%
2015	28%	57%	56%
2014	29%	61%	58%
2013	36%	62%	59%
2012	28%	62%	60%
2011	23%	62%	56%
2010	18%	57%	54%
2009	18%	56%	46%
2008	19%	54%	45%
2007	23%	54%	52%
2006	29%	47%	54%
2005	24%	48%	49%
2004	24%	47%	51%
2003	27%	46%	52%

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Eligible for (19-20)

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2001-2020)
Year	Desert Hills Elementary School	New Mexico	Las Cruces School District
2020	6%	3%	3%
2019	6%	3%	3%
2018	5%	3%	2%
2017	5%	3%	2%
2016	5%	4%	2%
2015	8%	6%	4%
2014	9%	6%	6%
2013	4%	6%	6%
2012	8%	6%	4%
2011	6%	6%	5%
2010	9%	7%	6%
2009	8%	6%	7%
2008	5%	7%	7%
2006	2%	8%	5%
2005	5%	10%	8%
2004	5%	9%	9%
2003	7%	10%	10%
2002	6%	9%	8%
2001	6%	10%	9%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Las Cruces School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NM Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Hills Elementary School's ranking?

Desert Hills Elementary School is ranked #63 out of 796 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in New Mexico.

What schools are Desert Hills Elementary School often compared to?

Desert Hills Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Hillrise Elementary School, White Sands Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

45% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 24% NM state average), while 56% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 34% NM state average).

How many students attend Desert Hills Elementary School?

539 students attend Desert Hills Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

66% of Desert Hills Elementary School students are Hispanic, 24% of students are White, 4% of students are Asian, 2% of students are Black, 2% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Desert Hills Elementary School?

Desert Hills Elementary School has a student ration of 15:1, which is higher than the New Mexico state average of 13:1.

What grades does Desert Hills Elementary School offer ?

Desert Hills Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Desert Hills Elementary School part of?

Desert Hills Elementary School is part of Las Cruces School District.

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Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 539 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 76%
: Top 10%
: 45% (Top 20%)
: 56% (Top 10%)
: 60-64% (Top 10%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NM Dept. of Education