Chama Valley

The Chama Valley Independent Schools district in New Mexico serves four schools, including two elementary schools, one middle school, and one combined middle/high school. The district faces significant challenges, with high poverty levels and racial disparities among the student populations. However, some schools stand out, such as Chama Elementary, which has the highest statewide ranking and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Chama Middle previously performed well, ranking 26th out of 176 New Mexico middle schools in 2016-2017, its performance has since declined significantly, ranking 232nd out of 239 middle schools in 2022-2023 with a 0-star rating. This suggests the district may need to address the challenges facing this school. Additionally, all four schools in the Chama Valley Indep. Schools district have extremely high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic challenges in the community.

The racial makeup of the schools also reveals disparities, with Escalante Middle/High School and Tierra Amarilla Elementary having predominantly Hispanic student populations. The district may need to examine issues of equity and ensure that all students, regardless of their racial or ethnic background, have access to quality education and support.