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Last week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book, revealing once again that we are failing our students. For the eighth consecutive year, New Mexico ranks 50th in education. New Mexico also ranks 48th in economic well-being, 44th in health, 49th in family and community, and 50th in overall child well-being.
We know that students in New Mexico have many struggles, the result of historic injustice and current economic and family instability. Yet, we remain steadfast in our belief that regardless of poverty or trauma, our students are capable and deserve an education that prepares them to reach their dreams—an education that will enable them to help create the New Mexico we all dream of.
It does not have to be this way. We need only look to Mississippi for inspiration. Mississippi despite ranking 50th in economic well-being, health, and family and community– ranks 30th in education. Similarly, Louisiana, ranking 49th in economic well-being, health, and family and community, ranks 42nd in Education.
Stories of Success in New Mexico
There is good news: we have examples of success here in New Mexico.
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- Alvarado Elementary in Albuquerque, serves 95% low-income and 75% Hispanic students, and boasts a reading proficiency of 54%, math proficiency of 42%, and a science proficiency of 68%. These results are double the statewide average!
- Anthony Elementary, which serves 95% low-income students, 50% English Learners, and 93% Hispanic students, saw a 17-point increase in Math proficiency from 2022 to 2023.
- Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School, located in Albuquerque’s South Valley, serves 85% Hispanic students and 78% low-income students. The school has achieved a reading proficiency of 68%, double the state average!
- Pojoaque Valley School District, which serves 81% Hispanic and 58% low-income students, demonstrated a remarkable 26.7 percentage point increase in English language arts proficiency from 2022 to 2023.
Alvarado Elementary, Anthony Elementary, Albuquerque Collegiate, and the Pojoaque Valley School District show that New Mexico students can succeed with quality instruction and support. These schools demonstrate success is possible and every school in New Mexico can follow suit.
The Path Forward
While there is no single solution, we know we can make significant educational progress by focusing on three key areas:
1. Accountability: We need a renewed focus on accountability to ensure that all schools are providing the education our students deserve. In our current system, there are no consequences for underperforming schools and no rewards for schools that are achieving game-changing results.
2. Targeted Support: We have robust student-level data, but what are we doing with it? When data indicates our students are falling behind, we must provide specific and targeted support immediately. States like Mississippi have shown that by implementing targeted interventions and supports such as high-impact tutoring and individualized reading plans, student outcomes improve.
3. Replication of Success: To improve education across the board, we must identify and replicate successful strategies from both within New Mexico and other states.
Together with policymakers, leaders, educators, parents, and advocates like you, we can improve education in our state. Here’s how you can get involved and stay informed:
Listen to the New Mexico Rising Podcast
Tune into New Mexico Rising to hear inspiring stories of success from leaders, educators, and parents working to improve education in the Land of Enchantment. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts!
Subscribe to New Mexico Education
Visit our education news website, New Mexico Education, for the most recent updates and news on education. To get notified by email when a new story is published, click this link and subscribe.
Share Our Work with Others
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Together, we can lift New Mexico from the bottom of the rankings and ensure every student receives an education that prepares them to meet their potential and achieve their dreams.