Jal Junior High

Jal Junior High is a middle school in Jal, New Mexico, serving grades 6–8 with 119 students as part of Jal Public Schools. It is the only school within 20 miles, so families in this part of southeastern New Mexico have no nearby campus to compare it against directly.

Academically, the school is outperforming its district. Jal Junior High ranked 92nd of 191 New Mexico middle schools in 2025–2026, the 52nd percentile with 3 stars, following 97th of 192, also 3 stars, the year before. Earlier years were much weaker: the 8th percentile with 0 stars in 2022–2023 and the 26th percentile with 1 star in 2023–2024. The district ranks 78th of 87 with 1 star, although grade-level district scores are identical to the school's, which suggests Jal Junior High may be the only school serving grades 6–8 in the district, so those district comparisons are not an independent benchmark. English language arts is the strength: 49.06% of all grades tested proficient on NM-MSSA versus 44.66% statewide, and 8th grade ELA reached 60% against the state's 43.85%. Eighth-grade science is also above the state at 37.14% versus 34.33%.

Math is the clear priority. All-grade math proficiency is 17.92% on NM-MSSA versus 27.85% statewide, leaving a 31.14-point gap between ELA and math that is nearly double the state's 16.81-point gap. Math rose from 7% in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 to 18.58% in 2024–2025 and 17.92% in 2025–2026, so the improvement has stalled. Eighth-grade math was reported as under 20%, at or below the state's 20.5%. Recent subgroup rankings are mostly average or better, with female students at the 76th percentile with 4 stars and low-income students at the 57th percentile in 2024–2025. With only 119 students, these figures can swing from year to year, and reported free/reduced lunch jumped to 100% in 2024–2025 from 46.61%, which may reflect a reporting change rather than a sudden shift for families.