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Dennis Chavez Elementary

Q: Is Dennis Chavez Elementary a good school?

Dennis Chavez Elementary ranks 98 th of 345 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

98^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 345 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Better than 72% of New Mexico elementary schools

Summary

Dennis Chavez Elementary is a public elementary school in Belen, New Mexico, serving 281 students in grades PK-6. The school has consistently improved its academic performance, moving from the 350th out of 442 elementary schools in the state in 2013-2014 to the 98th out of 345 in 2024-2025, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dennis Chavez Elementary's students significantly outperform their peers in the Belen school district and the state of New Mexico in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. In 2024-2025, 52% of Dennis Chavez students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 43.57% in Belen and 44.19% statewide. In Mathematics, 44.57% of Dennis Chavez students were proficient or better, compared to 27.56% in Belen and 26.81% statewide. The school also outperforms nearby schools in the Belen and Los Lunas districts.

Dennis Chavez Elementary's success extends beyond overall academic performance, with strong results across various student subgroups, including Female, Male, Hispanic, Native American, and English Language Learner students. The school's relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.3 to 13.3 over the past three years, may be a contributing factor to its academic achievements, which serve as a model for other schools in the region.

294

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,163

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

19670 Hwy 314
Belen, NM 87002

(505) 966-1800

District: Belen

Students who attend Dennis Chavez Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Belen Middle
High:	Belen High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

80.6%

White:

14.6%

Two or more races:

2.7%

See top rated New Mexico elementary schools

Compare Dennis Chavez Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 21st percentile in 2014 → 72nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Mexico average (45% vs 35% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 51 percentile points since 2014

✓Above the New Mexico median (72nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg34%

New Mexico avg35%

98^th of 345

New Mexico public elementary schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 28 pts since 2015

From bottom 44% (2015) to top 28% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5Elementary Schools in the Belen

48^th of 82Belen among New Mexico districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	60.4	98 of 345	71.6%	★★★★☆
2024	67.8	107 of 413	74.1%	★★★★☆
2023	70.8	121 of 435	72.2%	★★★★☆
2022	57.5	132 of 420	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	33.0	260 of 396	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.1	163 of 383	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	29.4	267 of 374	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	32.6	281 of 410	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	38.5	237 of 421	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	27.0	350 of 442	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	37.5	263 of 412	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	47.3	210 of 398	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	53.3	167 of 402	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	46.9	224 of 419	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	40.1	258 of 411	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	49.7	193 of 405	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	40.5	233 of 398	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	62.2	129 of 390	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	45.3	210 of 389	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2018	37.1	26 of 35	25.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	76.7	45 of 223	79.8%	★★★★☆
2023	69.2	56 of 191	70.7%	★★★★☆
2022	47.2	107 of 203	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	68.4	88 of 398	77.9%	★★★★☆
2023	62.9	131 of 390	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.1	132 of 395	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.9	193 of 343	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.3	141 of 339	58.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	67.6	54 of 255	78.8%	★★★★☆
2024	81.7	53 of 384	86.2%	★★★★☆
2023	78.7	76 of 395	80.8%	★★★★☆
2022	52.9	125 of 389	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.3	195 of 320	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.4	158 of 329	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	35.7	23 of 36	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	63.6	79 of 325	75.7%	★★★★☆
2024	69.5	88 of 356	75.3%	★★★★☆
2023	80.3	74 of 426	82.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.0	66 of 410	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	40.7	212 of 361	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.9	103 of 356	71.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	73.9	77 of 397	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	76.1	87 of 414	79.0%	★★★★☆
2022	53.4	127 of 392	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.0	236 of 337	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.2	170 of 333	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	69.3	20 of 99	79.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	50.8	61 of 158	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.4	52 of 165	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.4	82 of 132	37.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	56.0	109 of 304	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.2	120 of 339	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.7	107 of 413	74.1%	★★★★☆
2022	68.1	75 of 325	76.9%	★★★★☆
2018	53.4	88 of 187	52.9%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2024)81st percentile+7 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)80th percentile+6 vs school

Native American (2022)80th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)79th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2024)78th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)76th percentile+4 vs school

White (2025)64th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2024)61st percentile-13 vs school

Homeless (2022)36th percentile-32 vs school

Disabled (2018)26th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts52%+8 vs state

Mathematics45%+18 vs state

Science22%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dennis Chavez Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NM-ASR Science (2025)			NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2025)							NM-MSSA Mathematics (2025)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NM-ASR Science 5th Grade	NM-ASR Science 8th Grade	NM-ASR Science All Grades	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts All Grades	NM-MSSA Mathematics 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 4th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 5th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 6th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 7th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 8th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Dennis Chavez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	19670 Hwy 314	Belen	87002	Valencia County	Belen	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 966-1800	294	22	13.3	100.0%	43 (14.6%)	0 (0.0%)	237 (80.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.7%)	60.4	98^th of 345 public elementary schools	71.6%		67.8	107^th of 413 public elementary schools	74.1%	9	22.2			36.4	62.2	46.7	63.4			52.0	20.5	53.3	42.2	63.4			44.6	$9,163
Tome Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	46 Chacon Rd	Los Lunas	87031	Valencia County	Los Lunas	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 866-8231	340	23	14.7	100.0%	27 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	302 (88.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	15.8	321^st of 345 public elementary schools	7.0%		18.8	341^st of 413 public elementary schools	17.4%	20	17.1			22.7	41.2	29.3	22.2			28.1			19.5				11.0	$9,366
La Merced Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	301 Alame Loop	Belen	87002	Valencia County	Belen	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 966-2100	463	30	15.6	100.0%	86 (18.6%)	3 (0.6%)	366 (79.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	31.1	215^th of 345 public elementary schools	37.7%		39.4	222^nd of 413 public elementary schools	46.2%	7				36.2	50.0	15.1	45.3			36.0	26.1	20.7		22.7			19.3	$9,239
Desert View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	49 Camino La Canada	Los Lunas	87031	Valencia County	Los Lunas	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 866-8231	393	24	16.3	100.0%	37 (9.4%)	4 (1.0%)	339 (86.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.0%)	22.9	274^th of 345 public elementary schools	20.6%		17.3	353^rd of 413 public elementary schools	14.5%	79	13.0			28.8	29.2	29.6	40.9			31.7	26.7		13.0	34.0			20.8	$9,849
Belen Family School	Public	1-8	4 Eastside School Road	Belen	87002	Valencia County	Belen	No	(n/a)	No	No	(505) 966-2270	154	5	29.0	100.0%	43 (27.9%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (66.9%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.2%)	85	37^th of 345 public elementary schools	89.3%		86.9	40^th of 413 public elementary schools	90.3%	3		38.7	28.3	53.9	55.6	68.2	68.8	62.5	61.3	62.1		55.6			43.8	45.2	49.1	$8,877
Rio Grande Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	15 Eastside School Rd	Belen	87002	Valencia County	Belen	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 966-2200	332	29	11.6	100.0%	38 (11.4%)	3 (0.9%)	281 (84.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)								(n/a)				54.9						54.9	32.4						32.4	$10,150
Raymond Gabaldon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	454 Coronado Rd	Los Lunas	87031	Valencia County	Los Lunas	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 866-8231	365	20	18.2	100.0%	57 (15.6%)	6 (1.6%)	291 (79.7%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	35.1	205^th of 345 public elementary schools	40.6%		33	255^th of 413 public elementary schools	38.3%	50	23.4			37.7	45.0	36.2	47.9			41.5		25.0	27.7	27.1			20.2	$9,064
Los Lunas Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	800 Coronado Rd	Los Lunas	87031	Valencia County	Los Lunas	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 866-8231	458	26	17.6	100.0%	43 (9.4%)	2 (0.4%)	399 (87.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.2%)	21.4	286^th of 345 public elementary schools	17.1%		33.2	252^nd of 413 public elementary schools	39.0%	34				21.3	46.3	22.8	34.0			31.5	14.8	23.9	20.7	23.4			20.6	$9,475
Katherine Gallegos Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	236 Dom Pasqual Rd	Los Lunas	87031	Valencia County	Los Lunas	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 866-8231	605	32	18.9	100.0%	99 (16.4%)	2 (0.3%)	470 (77.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (4.0%)	73.7	62^nd of 345 public elementary schools	82.0%		84.3	49^th of 413 public elementary schools	88.1%	13	35.1			42.7	70.1	54.6	59.3			56.6	30.3	66.7	48.1	66.3			52.8	$7,700
Sundance Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	3701 Sundance SW	Los Lunas	87031	Valencia County	Los Lunas	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 866-8231	617	35	17.6	100.0%	86 (13.9%)	3 (0.5%)	431 (69.9%)	6 (1.0%)	65 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.2%)	48.5	147^th of 345 public elementary schools	57.4%		52.4	159^th of 413 public elementary schools	61.5%	12	21.7			35.5	43.4	33.3	60.7			43.5	32.3	37.4	24.6	58.3			38.6	$7,964

Frequently Asked Questions about Dennis Chavez Elementary

Is Dennis Chavez Elementary a good school?

Dennis Chavez Elementary ranks 98^th of 345 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Dennis Chavez Elementary in?

Belen

How many students attend Dennis Chavez Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 294 students attended Dennis Chavez Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Dennis Chavez Elementary?

Students at Dennis Chavez Elementary are 81% Hispanic, 15% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

What schools do graduates of Dennis Chavez Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dennis Chavez Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Belen Middle
High : Belen High

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Mexico Public Education Department.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.