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David Skeet Elementary

Q: Is David Skeet Elementary a good school?

David Skeet Elementary ranks 207 th of 346 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend David Skeet Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 232 students attended David Skeet Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of David Skeet Elementary?

Students at David Skeet Elementary are 68% American Indian, 19% Hispanic, 10% White, 3% Two or more races.

Q: What schools do graduates of David Skeet Elementary attend?

Students who attend David Skeet Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Gallup Middle High : Miyamura High School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

207^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 346 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of New Mexico elementary schools

Summary

David Skeet Elementary is a PK–5 school serving 232 students in the small rural community of Vanderwagen, New Mexico, part of the Gallup-McKinley City Schools district, about 15 miles from its nearest same-district peers in Gallup. It is the smallest district-run elementary in its comparison group and the only one outside Gallup city limits; its two closest schools by road, Bread Springs Day School and Chi Chil'tah Community School, report no test-score data at all. Small classes mean many grade-level scores are suppressed for privacy, so single-year results should be read cautiously.

The headline story is a genuine turnaround. After falling to the 2nd percentile statewide in 2022–2023 (0 stars), the school improved for four straight years — 19th, 9th, 32nd, and 40th percentile — returning to 2 stars in both 2024–25 and 2025–26, matching its best showing on record. Math is the engine: at 26.85% proficiency it edges the district average of 26.30% and sits close to the state's 27.85%, and math proficiency has more than quadrupled since 2022–23. Language arts is at 34.26%, roughly 3 points below the district and 10 below the state. Science is the clearest gap, with combined and 5th-grade results in the under-20% band versus about 30% district and 33% state.

Grade-level results are uneven: 4th-grade language arts (54.17%) is well above district and state, 6th grade is solid in both subjects, and 5th grade is the weak link. Measured against schools serving similar students, students from low-income families and English learners rank around the 63rd percentile with 3 stars, suggesting the improvement is broad rather than confined to one group. Among nearby schools, David Skeet Elementary outranks Stagecoach Elementary, Shiwi Ts'ana Elementary, Tobe Turpen Elementary, and Del Norte Elementary but trails Lincoln Elementary, Indian Hills Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and Red Rock Elementary — the district standout — by wide margins. With 232 students, expect year-to-year swings; the four-year trend is the better guide.

232

Students ?

4.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,083

Per pupil spending ?

84.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

Rt 45 Jones Ranch Rd
Vanderwagen, NM 87326

(505) 721-1700

District: Gallup-McKinley City Schools

Students who attend David Skeet Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Gallup Middle
High:	Miyamura High School

Racial breakdown:

American Indian:

67.7%

Hispanic:

18.5%

White:

9.9%

See top rated New Mexico elementary schools

Compare David Skeet Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 39th percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 5 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Mexico average (31% vs 36% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts scores 10 pts below the New Mexico average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg32%

New Mexico avg36%

207^th of 346

New Mexico public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▬ steady since 2016

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 16Elementary Schools in the Gallup-McKinley City Schools

60^th of 87Gallup-McKinley City Schools 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
2026	37.7	207 of 346	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.7	236 of 345	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	12.7	374 of 413	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.7	425 of 435	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	339 of 420	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.3	312 of 396	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.4	301 of 383	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.7	238 of 374	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	38.2	247 of 410	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	35.7	256 of 421	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	6.2	438 of 442	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	5.4	407 of 412	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	11.7	382 of 398	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.0	397 of 402	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	6.2	416 of 419	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	5.1	405 of 411	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	11.9	386 of 405	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	22.8	337 of 398	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	6.4	382 of 390	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	12.3	371 of 389	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	55.9	83 of 223	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.4	54 of 83	34.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	12.9	357 of 398	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	7.9	386 of 390	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.3	211 of 343	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.0	209 of 339	38.3%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	53.4	95 of 256	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	31.9	205 of 325	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	13.0	328 of 356	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.7	416 of 426	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.8	297 of 410	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	29.3	271 of 361	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.4	266 of 356	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	11.4	373 of 397	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.0	413 of 414	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.8	294 of 392	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	38.2	203 of 337	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	22.7	278 of 333	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Native American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	55.3	12 of 32	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	48.8	16 of 34	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	22.4	70 of 90	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.5	89 of 92	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	84 of 99	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.9	47 of 64	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.3	30 of 48	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

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 (2026)63rd percentile+23 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)63rd percentile+53 vs school

Native American (2026)62nd percentile+22 vs school

Female (2024)10th percentile~ school

Male (2024)6th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts34%-10 vs state

Mathematics27%~ state avg

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The school has made such growth this last year. It now has a "B" from the state of New Mexico. I'm proud my students go to David Skeet. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, February 26, 2010

david skeet elementary school is full of racism. Close Quote

Schools Near David Skeet Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NM-ASR Science (2026)		NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2026)					NM-MSSA Mathematics (2026)					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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NM-ASR Science 5th 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 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 All Grades	Total
David Skeet Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	Rt 45 Jones Ranch Rd	Vanderwagen	87326	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-1700	232	50	4.6	84.5%	23 (9.9%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (18.5%)	1 (0.4%)	157 (67.7%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (3.0%)	37.7	207^th of 346 public elementary schools	40.2%		27.7	236^th of 345 public elementary schools	31.6%	29				54.2	26.7	34.3	34.3				37.1	26.9	$13,083
Bread Springs Day School	Public	K-3	Hwy 602 East Skeets Road 1750	Vanderwagen	87305	McKinley County	Bread Springs Day School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(505) 778-5411	61	3	20.3	95.1%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Chi Chil'tah Community School	Public	K-8	831 Cousins Rd	Vanderwagen	87326	McKinley County	Chi Chil'tah Community School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(505) 778-5574	54	5	10.8	94.4%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Stagecoach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1498 Freedom Dr	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-4300	340	18	19.2	90.6%	22 (6.5%)	3 (0.9%)	83 (24.4%)	4 (1.2%)	217 (63.8%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.9%)	16.1	312^th of 346 public elementary schools	9.8%		14.8	325^th of 345 public elementary schools	5.8%	13	< 20%	< 20%	20.0	37.5	21.4	29.8	26.7	17.5	< 20%	23.8	23.4	21.1	$12,484
Red Rock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1305 Red Rock Dr	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-3900	311	18	16.0	83.6%	70 (22.5%)	2 (0.6%)	109 (35.0%)	18 (5.8%)	94 (30.2%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (5.5%)	87.8	35^th of 346 public elementary schools	89.9%		71.2	67^th of 345 public elementary schools	80.6%	32	58.8		78.1	53.6	70.6	74.4	69.9	59.4	42.9	52.9	64.1	55.6	$10,647
Lincoln Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	502 Old Zuni Rd	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-3400	414	68	6.1	88.4%	33 (8.0%)	6 (1.4%)	127 (30.7%)	2 (0.5%)	231 (55.8%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.6%)	44.5	177^th of 346 public elementary schools	48.8%		28.2	231^st of 345 public elementary schools	33.0%	54	35.9		53.5	31.0	35.9	31.6	37.6	30.2	35.7	30.8	50.0	37.8	$11,987
Tobe Turpen Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3310 Manuelito	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-5000	397	23	17.1	90.2%	30 (7.6%)	1 (0.3%)	78 (19.6%)	1 (0.3%)	276 (69.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)	28.4	248^th of 346 public elementary schools	28.3%		28	232^nd of 345 public elementary schools	32.8%	16	41.1		22.2	22.7	34.6	28.3	27.7	< 20%	< 20%	38.2	20.8	20.6	$11,357
Jefferson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 Mollica Dr	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-3000	460	25	18.9	89.6%	23 (5.0%)	4 (0.9%)	135 (29.3%)	2 (0.4%)	278 (60.4%)	2 (0.4%)	16 (3.5%)	65.5	84^th of 346 public elementary schools	75.7%		47.8	152^nd of 345 public elementary schools	55.9%	68	49.1		26.9	58.3	65.5	46.9	49.3	28.9	43.8	60.0	48.4	45.7	$11,721
Del Norte Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	700 West Wilson	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-5200	424	26	17.0	89.2%	26 (6.1%)	5 (1.2%)	119 (28.1%)	0 (0.0%)	258 (60.8%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.5%)	32	229^th of 346 public elementary schools	33.8%		16.3	318^th of 345 public elementary schools	7.8%	89	26.3		33.3	40.0	46.0	35.5	38.4	30.6	26.0	23.7	29.0	27.4	$11,820
Indian Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3604 Ciniza Dr	Gallup	87301	McKinley County	Gallup-McKinley City Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 721-2900	294	17	16.3	87.4%	26 (8.8%)	3 (1.0%)	85 (28.9%)	7 (2.4%)	161 (54.8%)	3 (1.0%)	9 (3.1%)	60.4	100^th of 346 public elementary schools	71.1%		37.1	201^st of 345 public elementary schools	41.7%	101	36.4		31.0	58.3	68.2	50.0	50.5		37.5	45.5	46.7	37.5	$12,401

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