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Capitan Middle

Q: Is Capitan Middle a good school?

Capitan Middle ranks 66 th of 192 New Mexico middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

66^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 192 New Mexico Middle Schools

Better than 66% of New Mexico middle schools

Summary

Capitan Middle School is a public middle school located in Capitan, New Mexico, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 102 students. The school is part of the Capitan District, which is ranked 29 out of 82 districts in New Mexico and is rated 3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Capitan Middle consistently outperforms the state average in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, with 52.13% of students proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 44.19%. In mathematics, the school also performs better than the state average, with 27.66% of students proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 26.81%. Additionally, Capitan Middle's 8th-grade science proficiency rate of 43.24% in 2024-2025 is significantly higher than the state average of 34.46%. The school's female and male students, as well as its Hispanic and White student groups, have consistently ranked among the top middle schools in New Mexico, and its low socioeconomic status (SES) students have particularly strong performance, ranking 9 out of 144 New Mexico middle schools in 2023-2024.

Compared to nearby schools, Carrizozo Middle has lower ELA proficiency rates and a higher percentage of free/reduced-price lunch recipients, while Ruidoso Middle has similar academic performance to Capitan Middle, but with a larger student population and higher percentage of free/reduced-price lunch recipients. Capitan Middle's relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11 to 14.5 students per teacher over the past three school years, is also a key factor that contributes to its success.

102

Students ?

12.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,085

Per pupil spending ?

30.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

519 Smokey Bear Blvd
Capitan, NM 88316

(575) 354-2239

District: Capitan

Students who attend Capitan Middle usually attend:

High:

Capitan High

Feeder schools for Capitan Middle:

Elementary:

Capitan Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.8%

Hispanic:

30.4%

Two or more races:

5.9%

See top rated New Mexico middle schools

Compare Capitan Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 72nd percentile in 2014 → 66th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Mexico average (40% vs 35% meeting standards)

✓Above the New Mexico median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2014

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg43%

New Mexico avg35%

66^th of 192

New Mexico public middle schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 8 pts since 2015

From top 43% (2015) to top 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

29^th of 82Capitan 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	54.3	66 of 192	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.6	28 of 165	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	56.0	83 of 239	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.0	83 of 232	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.8	86 of 200	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.6	95 of 186	48.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	37.8	105 of 176	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.2	85 of 208	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	48.2	88 of 207	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	62.5	63 of 222	71.6%	★★★★☆
2013	73.4	45 of 193	76.7%	★★★★☆
2012	76.9	28 of 178	84.3%	★★★★☆
2011	63.9	52 of 173	69.9%	★★★★☆
2010	61.2	54 of 179	69.8%	★★★★☆
2009	48.4	82 of 178	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	62.2	55 of 172	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	47.2	87 of 171	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	67.1	41 of 156	73.7%	★★★★☆
2005	67.7	41 of 157	73.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	67.5	23 of 162	85.8%	★★★★☆
2023	51.1	84 of 213	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.8	59 of 220	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	56.8	58 of 160	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.0	46 of 156	70.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	43.0	66 of 154	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.9	68 of 204	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.7	60 of 214	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	41.3	78 of 150	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.7	46 of 149	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	86.0	9 of 144	93.8%	★★★★★
2023	60.1	69 of 227	69.6%	★★★★☆
2022	57.9	61 of 223	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	59.5	54 of 175	69.1%	★★★★☆
2018	55.2	57 of 168	66.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	71.1	17 of 161	89.4%	★★★★★
2023	55.2	87 of 221	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.6	82 of 213	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.4	48 of 152	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.9	87 of 151	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	33.8	38 of 58	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	52.5	69 of 178	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.5	35 of 142	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	50.5	100 of 229	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	33.1	129 of 187	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.6	66 of 121	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	16.3	110 of 120	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)94th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2024)89th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2024)86th percentile+3 vs school

White (2025)61st percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2024)57th percentile-26 vs school

Special Education (2022)34th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts52%+8 vs state

Science43%+9 vs state

Mathematics28%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Capitan Middle

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 8th 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 6th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 7th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 8th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Capitan Middle	Public	6-8	519 Smokey Bear Blvd	Capitan	88316	Lincoln County	Capitan	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 354-2239	102	8	12.3	30.4%	62 (60.8%)	1 (1.0%)	31 (30.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	6 (5.9%)	54.3	66^th of 192 public middle schools	65.6%		64.6	28^th of 165 public middle schools	83.0%	38	43.2	57.1	58.6	43.2	52.1	35.7	31.0	18.9	27.7	$11,085
Ruidoso Middle	Public	6-8	123 Warrior Dr	Ruidoso	88345	Lincoln County	Ruidoso	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 257-4051	373	33	11.2	99.7%	91 (24.4%)	4 (1.1%)	219 (58.7%)	4 (1.1%)	45 (12.1%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.1%)	56	65^th of 192 public middle schools	66.1%		52.5	43^rd of 165 public middle schools	73.9%	22	49.1	52.2	46.1	53.5	50.6	47.8	23.5	17.1	29.4	$8,774
Carrizozo Middle	Public	6-8	800 D Ave	Carrizozo	88301	Lincoln County	Carrizozo	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 648-2348	25	5	5.5	100.0%	14 (56.0%)	1 (4.0%)	10 (40.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					30.4					$15,857

Frequently Asked Questions about Capitan Middle

Is Capitan Middle a good school?

Capitan Middle ranks 66^th of 192 New Mexico middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Capitan Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 102 students attended Capitan Middle.

What district is Capitan Middle in?

Capitan

What high school do graduates of Capitan Middle attend?

Students who attend Capitan Middle usually go on to attend Capitan High

What is the racial makeup of Capitan Middle?

Students at Capitan Middle are 61% White, 30% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

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NMNew Mexico Middle School Rankings

NMNew Mexico District Rankings

Schools in Capitan, NM

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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.