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We know whatâs possible when a student receives a high-quality education. Barriers fall. Opportunities grow. Lives change.
Yet for far too long, our education system has failed to deliver those possibilities for our students. And far too many New Mexicans are left relying on hope.
Parents hope their child gets a great teacher. They hope they can afford a house in a good attendance boundary. They hope that teacher was properly trained to teach reading. They hope someone notices if their child falls behind. But belief is not enough. Hope is not a strategy. If we want different results, we need strategy, policy, and bold action.
Nine Years at the Bottom
A few weeks ago, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which ranks all 50 states on child well-being overall and across four domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. For the ninth consecutive year, New Mexico ranks 50th in education. Our state also ranks 50th overall, 49th in economic well-being, 46th in health, and 50th in family and community.
The report shows worsening trends in key education indicators. The percentage of three- and four-year-olds not enrolled in school has increased from 56 percent to 60 percent. The number of fourth graders not proficient in reading also increased from 76 percent to 80 percent. Eighth-grade math proficiency declined as well, with 86 percent of students now not proficient, up from 76 percent.
These numbers arenât just data points. They represent real children in classrooms across our state who are counting on all of us to advocate for their future.
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
This data is deeply troubling, but it doesnât have to be our destiny. States like Mississippi and Louisiana, once ranked alongside New Mexico, have proven that change is possible. Mississippi now ranks 16th in education. Louisiana has climbed from 45th in 2013 to 42nd in 2024 and 35th in 2025.
Mississippi and Louisiana’s turnarounds are no accident. It reflects deliberate policy choices, including implementing structured literacy, investing in key interventions like high-impact tutoring, and adopting high-quality instructional materials.
If Mississippi could leap more than 30 spots in education, and Louisiana improved 10 spots in just one year, why canât New Mexico?
How You Can Help
Listen to Our Podcast
In our latest episode, we recap a recent event with Dr. Carey Wright, former Mississippi State Superintendent and architect of what she calls the âMississippi Marathon.â Youâll hear reflections from event attendees and insights on how Mississippi climbed from 49th in 4th-grade reading to 9th in 2024. Listen now.
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Letâs move from hope to action and advocate for the education New Mexico students deserve.