Best Public Schools in Chama, NM

The city of Chama, New Mexico is home to two small public schools - Chama Elementary and Chama Middle, both serving a majority Hispanic and Native American student population. With low enrollments of just 75 and 40 students respectively, these schools face significant challenges, including high poverty levels, declining academic performance, and a lack of high school options in the Chama Valley Independent Schools district.

While Chama Elementary and Chama Middle benefit from low student-teacher ratios, the data shows that both schools have struggled with declining statewide rankings in recent years. Chama Elementary's ranking has fluctuated from 93rd out of 374 schools in 2016-2017 to 358th out of 421 schools in 2014-2015, while Chama Middle's ranking has dropped from 26th out of 176 schools in 2016-2017 to 232nd out of 239 schools in 2022-2023. This trend suggests that the schools are facing significant challenges in maintaining academic performance and competitiveness compared to other schools in New Mexico.

The high poverty levels in the Chama community, as evidenced by the 100% free/reduced lunch rates at both schools, likely contribute to the academic struggles. However, the diverse student population, with a majority Hispanic and significant Native American representation, also presents opportunities for the schools to develop targeted strategies to support the unique needs of these student groups. With low enrollments and declining performance, the Chama schools may benefit from additional resources and interventions to help improve educational outcomes for the local community.