Summary:
Tatum Municipal Schools is a small New Mexico district serving 310 students across three schools with no alternative campus: Tatum Elementary (PK–6, 128 students), Tatum Junior High (7–8, 53 students), and Tatum High (9–12, 129 students). The district ranks 19th of 87 in New Mexico, at the 78th percentile with 4 stars, and all three schools earned 4 stars in 2025–2026.
Tatum Junior High is the highest-ranked school, at 23rd of 191 and the 88th percentile, with the district's top all-grade ELA score of 75% and an 8th grade ELA result of 84.62% against a state figure of 43.61%. Tatum Elementary follows at 44th of 346 and the 87th percentile, excelling in math: all-grade math is 51.67% versus 25.54% statewide, and its 5th grade science score is 69.23% versus 31.97%. Tatum High sits lower at the 72nd percentile but improved from 66th percentile and 3 stars the prior year, and its graduation rate of 94.2% far exceeds the state's 80.6%.
Science is a district-wide strength, with every reported result well above state averages. Math is sharply split: Elementary is excellent, Junior High is above state at 33.33% versus 25.54% but below the district figure of 35.88%, and high school math is suppressed across the listed exams, so it cannot be evaluated. ELA is strong too, led by the Junior High. Notably, Tatum Junior High has the highest free/reduced lunch rate at 56.60% yet the strongest ELA results, while Tatum Elementary has the largest student/teacher ratio at 14.2 and still posts strong math and science. Year-over-year trends are mostly positive, and district averages can mask individual school stories.
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