Explore Academy Las Cruces

Explore Academy Las Cruces is a K–8 public school on North Telshor Boulevard in Las Cruces, New Mexico, serving 599 students — more than any other school in this nearby comparison set. It operates as its own district, Explore Academy Las Cruces, which ranks 67th of 87 districts in New Mexico. The school's own state rank was 206th of 346 in 2025–26 — 40th percentile, 2 stars — down from 167th of 345 in 2024–25, when it was 52nd percentile with 3 stars.

Science is the school's clearest strength. All-grade science proficiency was 42.11% in 2025–26 against a state figure of 33.40%, and 5th-grade science was 46.34% versus 31.97% statewide. Math is the opposite story: 20.42% proficiency versus 25.54% statewide, below the state in every single grade level and below the state in each recent year, so the weakness is schoolwide rather than tied to one classroom. Language arts sits at 37.37% versus 43.34% statewide, and that average hides a split — 5th-grade reading and writing is a bright spot at 48.78% versus 41.98% statewide, while 8th grade is far below at 27.40% versus 43.61%. The school also reports a wide internal gap between how well it serves female students (61st percentile) and male students (29th percentile).

The most useful comparison is J Paul Taylor Academy, the only other nearby K–8 school, which outperforms Explore in every core subject (language arts 60.90%, math 48.12%, science 56.82%) and ranks 84th percentile with 4 stars. Desert Hills Elementary, Central Elementary, Hillrise Elementary, and Jornada Elementary also post higher proficiency. Explore does outpace Alameda Elementary, Valley View Elementary, Loma Heights Elementary, Booker T. Washington, and Hermosa Heights Elementary. Class size is not the explanation: its student-teacher ratio of 11.5 is close to neighboring schools in Las Cruces Public Schools.