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University Hills Elementary

Q: Is University Hills Elementary a good school?

University Hills Elementary ranks 236 th of 346 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Q: How many students attend University Hills Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 363 students attended University Hills Elementary.

Q: What is the racial makeup of University Hills Elementary?

Students at University Hills Elementary are 74% Hispanic, 15% White, 6% African American, 4% Asian.

Q: What schools do graduates of University Hills Elementary attend?

Students who attend University Hills Elementary usually go on to attend: Middle : Lynn Middle High : Arrowhead Park Early College High School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

236^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 346 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Better than 32% of New Mexico elementary schools

Summary

University Hills Elementary is a PK–5 school at 2005 South Locust St in Las Cruces, New Mexico, serving 363 students as part of Las Cruces Public Schools. For 2025–26 it ranks 236th of 346 New Mexico elementary schools (32nd percentile, 2 stars), with 42.22% proficiency in Language Arts — roughly at the state line of 43.34% — and 20.15% in Mathematics, which trails both the district (24.5%) and the state (25.54%).

The data show a multi-year slide. University Hills was a 73rd-percentile, 4-star school in 2015–16 and held 3 stars from 2021–22 through 2024–25, then fell from the 60th percentile in 2023–24 to the 32nd in 2025–26 — an 18-point drop in a single year. The decline is mostly a math story: in 2023–24 the school's math proficiency was 9 points above the state, and by 2024–25 it was about 10 points below. Grade-level results point to fifth grade as the weak spot, trailing the district by about 12 points in ELA and 18 in math, while third grade is a bright spot, above district and state in ELA. Fifth-grade science, at 23.91% versus the state's 32.24%, has lagged for years.

Among nearby schools, University Hills ranks 8th of 11 in both reading and math — above Valley View Elementary and Hermosa Heights Elementary, but below Desert Hills Elementary, a district school with 100% free/reduced lunch that reached the 95th percentile and 5 stars. University Hills has a favorable 11.3:1 student–teacher ratio — better than Desert Hills, Tombaugh Elementary, Conlee Elementary, and Hillrise Elementary — so staffing does not appear to explain the gap. Its effectiveness ranking for female students fell from the 74th percentile in 2023–24 to the 12th in 2025–26, while English Language Learners have historically been a relative strength.

363

Students ?

11.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,880

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2005 South Locust St
Las Cruces, NM 88001

(575) 527-9649

District: Las Cruces Public Schools

Students who attend University Hills Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lynn Middle
High:	Arrowhead Park Early College High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

74.4%

White:

14.9%

African American:

5.8%

See top rated New Mexico elementary schools

Compare University Hills Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 67th percentile in 2015 → 32nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 35 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg37%

New Mexico avg36%

236^th of 346

New Mexico public elementary schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 41 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to bottom 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^th of 23Elementary Schools in the Las Cruces Public Schools

49^th of 87Las Cruces Public 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	30.9	236 of 346	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.0	172 of 345	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.5	167 of 413	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.4	148 of 435	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.1	141 of 420	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.9	228 of 396	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	55.4	142 of 383	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.6	124 of 374	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.9	110 of 410	73.2%	★★★★☆
2015	58.5	138 of 421	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	50.0	215 of 442	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.3	125 of 412	69.7%	★★★★☆
2012	68.5	108 of 398	72.9%	★★★★☆
2011	40.2	247 of 402	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	40.1	265 of 419	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.5	249 of 411	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.2	165 of 405	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	52.8	179 of 398	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.9	144 of 390	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2005	66.3	108 of 389	72.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	21.9	49 of 56	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	55.1	87 of 223	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	53 of 191	72.3%	★★★★☆
2022	54.4	73 of 203	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.8	16 of 98	83.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	22.3	222 of 252	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	63.6	105 of 398	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	58.4	147 of 390	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.1	131 of 395	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	30.9	243 of 343	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	54.4	132 of 339	61.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	34.4	182 of 273	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.0	114 of 255	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.2	175 of 384	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.6	114 of 395	71.1%	★★★★☆
2022	47.4	154 of 389	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.4	192 of 320	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.6	124 of 329	62.3%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	69.1	8 of 36	77.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	45.7	131 of 256	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.2	120 of 325	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	45.2	183 of 356	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	72.5	114 of 426	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	63.2	83 of 410	79.8%	★★★★☆
2019	49.0	171 of 361	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.9	81 of 356	77.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	44.4	128 of 251	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.2	148 of 397	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.5	143 of 414	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.0	152 of 392	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	39.8	191 of 337	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.6	137 of 333	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2023	72.1	45 of 165	72.7%	★★★★☆
2022	36.8	88 of 132	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	32.4	210 of 304	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.3	121 of 304	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.2	155 of 339	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.4	125 of 413	69.7%	★★★★☆
2022	47.1	170 of 325	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.8	156 of 199	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.4	108 of 187	42.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2022)78th percentile+11 vs school

Special Education (2023)73rd percentile+7 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)61st percentile~ school

Male (2026)49th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)49th percentile+17 vs school

Hispanic (2026)33rd percentile~ school

White (2026)31st percentile~ school

African American (2022)12th percentile-54 vs school

Female (2026)12th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts44%~ state avg

Science24%-8 vs state

Mathematics21%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near University Hills 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 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
University Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2005 South Locust St	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9649	363	32	11.3	100.0%	54 (14.9%)	21 (5.8%)	270 (74.4%)	13 (3.6%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	30.9	236^th of 346 public elementary schools	31.8%		44	172^nd of 345 public elementary schools	50.1%	64	23.9			50.0	48.8	34.1				44.2	25.6	19.5	18.2				21.1	$11,880
Conlee Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1701 Boston Dr	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9656	417	35	12.0	99.8%	45 (10.8%)	18 (4.3%)	350 (83.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	52.4	136^th of 346 public elementary schools	60.7%		46.7	159^th of 345 public elementary schools	53.9%	23	31.4			35.3	67.3	45.1				49.7	23.5	32.7	58.8				38.2	$11,071
Valley View Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	915 E California Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9586	343	34	10.0	99.7%	33 (9.6%)	12 (3.5%)	284 (82.8%)	8 (2.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	14.5	317^th of 346 public elementary schools	8.4%		24.1	266^th of 345 public elementary schools	22.9%	51	< 20%		< 20%	24.4	35.3	31.6				30.8	< 20%	< 20%	18.4				10.8	$12,275
Hillrise Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 South Curnutt St	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9666	421	33	12.7	100.0%	102 (24.2%)	12 (2.9%)	288 (68.4%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	49.9	149^th of 346 public elementary schools	56.9%		59.6	102^nd of 345 public elementary schools	70.4%	47	44.2			51.8	52.1	49.0				51.1	26.8	19.2	43.1				28.3	$9,028
Hermosa Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1655 East Amador Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9530	408	36	11.3	100.2%	34 (8.3%)	5 (1.2%)	363 (89.0%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	22.5	283^rd of 346 public elementary schools	18.2%		22.2	278^th of 345 public elementary schools	19.4%	5	25.0			27.3	42.9	28.9				33.6	< 20%	23.2	< 20%				15.8	$11,668
Mesilla Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	955 West Union Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9615	311	32	9.5	100.0%	26 (8.4%)	4 (1.3%)	273 (87.8%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	52.2	138^th of 346 public elementary schools	60.1%		69.9	72^nd of 345 public elementary schools	79.1%	66	33.3			44.2	41.3	58.3				47.2	25.6	41.3	50.0				38.4	$10,652
Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	150 North Alameda Blvd	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9496	182	17	10.9	100.0%	28 (15.4%)	1 (0.5%)	147 (80.8%)	2 (1.1%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	51.1	145^th of 346 public elementary schools	58.1%		53.3	122^nd of 345 public elementary schools	64.6%	23	30.8			52.0	62.2	53.9				56.4		21.6	33.3				25.7	$12,022
Tombaugh Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	226 Carver Rd	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9575	565	47	12.1	99.6%	56 (9.9%)	2 (0.4%)	491 (86.9%)	7 (1.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.2%)	65.3	86^th of 346 public elementary schools	75.1%		63.6	90^th of 345 public elementary schools	73.9%	4	45.4			40.0	63.0	57.3				54.0	17.3	50.6	53.1				41.7	$9,882
J Paul Taylor Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	500 N Reymond St	Las Cruces	88005	Doña Ana County	J Paul Taylor Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 652-4006	200	16	12.6	25.5%	55 (27.5%)	0 (0.0%)	138 (69.0%)	4 (2.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	75.3	56^th of 346 public elementary schools	83.8%		74.3	58^th of 345 public elementary schools	83.2%	2	43.5	71.4	56.8	54.2	66.7	60.9	50.0	63.6	71.4	60.9	50.0	52.4	52.2	36.4	50.0	47.6	48.1	$7,963
Booker T. Washington	Public	PK, KG-5	755 East Chestnut Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9595	361	33	11.1	100.0%	24 (6.6%)	1 (0.3%)	335 (92.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)								(n/a)				31.8	43.2					31.0		< 20%					16.1	$13,990

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