#T1Los Alamos
Los Alamos County (city and county) · 13,317 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #1 of 72 in NM
Los Alamos, #1 on this list · Bayo Road · Photo: Clyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0New Mexico rankings · Schools
Towns with the best schools in New Mexico
Los Alamos and White Rock share first place on schools among New Mexico’s 73 towns of 2,500+; 4 of the 73 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work
#T1A+
#T1White Rock
Los Alamos County (city and county) · 5,716 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A+ · #2 of 72 in NM
#3Rio Rancho
Sandoval County · 114,419 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall B · #3 of 72 in NM
All 73 towns
Schools grade, best first (graded within New Mexico). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 57 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
73 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
T1Los AlamosLos Alamos County (city and county) · 13,317 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A+ · #1 of 72
T1White RockLos Alamos County (city and county) · 5,716 peopleA+graded within the state·Overall A+ · #2 of 72
T5Holloman AFBunincorporated, Otero County · 4,433 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C− · #31 of 72
T10North Hobbsunincorporated, Lea County · 6,034 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #24 of 72
T12Chaparralunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 18,186 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #35 of 72
T12Crouch Mesaunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,812 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C · #21 of 72
T12Lee Acresunincorporated, San Juan County · 4,272 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #60 of 72
T12Santa Teresaunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 6,041 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #36 of 72
T12Vadounincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,895 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #28 of 72
T22Flora Vistaunincorporated, San Juan County · 2,770 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall D · #55 of 72
T25Agua Friaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 2,898 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #16 of 72
T25Eldorado at Santa Feunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 5,619 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #9 of 72
T25La Cienegaunincorporated, Santa Fe County · 3,543 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #4 of 72
T30University Park College campusunincorporated, Doña Ana County · 2,782 peopleB−graded within the state·No overall grade
T35El Cerrounincorporated, Valencia County · 2,923 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #6 of 72
T35El Cerro Missionunincorporated, Valencia County · 5,323 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall D · #52 of 72
T35Meadow Lakeunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,259 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #48 of 72
T43Kirtland AFBunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,413 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B− · #8 of 72
T43Los Ranchos de AlbuquerqueBernalillo County · 5,790 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #14 of 72
T43North Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 10,455 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #29 of 72
T43Paradise Hillsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 4,591 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B− · #12 of 72
T43Ranchos de Taosunincorporated, Taos County · 2,536 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #43 of 72
T43Sandia Heightsunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 3,160 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #13 of 72
T43South Valleyunincorporated, Bernalillo County · 37,120 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #20 of 72
T60Crownpointunincorporated, McKinley County · 2,882 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #41 of 72
T64Los Chavesunincorporated, Valencia County · 4,838 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #42 of 72
T66Placitasunincorporated, Sandoval County · 4,223 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall C · #17 of 72
T68La Mesillaunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 2,697 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #54 of 72
70Zuni Pueblounincorporated, McKinley County · 5,864 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D · #63 of 72
72Shiprockunincorporated, San Juan County · 7,610 peopleDgraded within the state·Overall D · #61 of 72
73Dulceunincorporated, Rio Arriba County · 3,218 peopleD−graded within the state·Overall D · #65 of 72
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which New Mexico town has the best schools?
Los Alamos (Los Alamos County) and White Rock (Los Alamos County) share first place on schools among 73 towns. Schools are compared within New Mexico, so the letter is a state grade.
How are these towns ranked?
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (73 in New Mexico). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the New Mexico page.
Go deeper
All New Mexico rankings →More New Mexico lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live72 towns · #1 Los AlamosBest small towns49 towns · #1 White RockMost affordable towns72 towns · #1 DulceSafest towns29 towns · #1 CorralesHealthiest towns73 towns · #1 White RockBest towns for jobs & income72 towns · #1 Sandia HeightsMost walkable towns73 towns · #1 Santa FeTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk73 towns · #1 University ParkBest towns for the outdoors73 towns · #1 White RockMost historic towns73 towns · #1 Las VegasTowns with the most civic life46 towns · #1 TaosTowns with the least snow69 towns · #1 DemingDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns69 towns · #1 DulceDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters72 towns · #1 Santa TeresaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers72 towns · #1 CarlsbadDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers72 towns · #1 RuidosoDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes72 towns · #1 White RockDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes65 towns · #1 VadoDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns43 towns · #1 Los LunasDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries36 towns · #1 TaosDescribed, no letters
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