Best Public Schools in Cliff, NM

Cliff, New Mexico has just two public schools, both part of Silver Consolidated Schools: Cliff Elementary, which serves grades PK–6 with 92 students, and Cliff High, which serves grades 7–12 with 95 students. The two schools share an address in this small rural community, and both report 100% free/reduced lunch, meaning families here face significant economic need. Class sizes are small, with student–teacher ratios of 9.8 at the elementary school and 7.7 at the high school. The district as a whole ranks 30th of 87 in New Mexico, at the 66th percentile with 3 stars — but both Cliff schools rank well above that.

Cliff Elementary is the standout: in 2025–2026 it ranked 22nd of 346 New Mexico elementary schools — the 94th percentile, 5 stars — after a 93rd-percentile, 5-star year in 2023–2024 and an 88th-percentile, 4-star year in 2024–2025. Its math results are exceptional, with 49.06% of all students proficient versus 27.76% in the district and 25.54% statewide; 4th grade math hit 70% and 6th grade math 64.29%. ELA was 50.94%, above both district and state. Science results were suppressed for privacy, so that subject is unknown.

Cliff High is improving steadily, rising from the 74th to 82nd to 89th percentile — 15th of 132 high schools, 4 stars. Science is its signature: 70.27% all-grade, including 82.35% in 11th grade, far above the district's 41.4% and the state's 33.4%. ELA is also strong at 58.7%, while math (26.09%) sits near district and state averages. Because these schools are small, a few students can shift scores noticeably, and many values are state-suppressed and therefore unknown.