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Zia Middle

Q: Is Zia Middle a good school?

Zia Middle ranks in the bottom 23.6% of New Mexico middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Zia Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 616 students attended Zia Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Zia Middle?

Students at Zia Middle are 80% Hispanic, 16% White, 2% African American.

Q: What high school do graduates of Zia Middle attend?

Students who attend Zia Middle usually go on to attend Arrowhead Park Early College High School

Public Grades 6-8

146^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 191 New Mexico Middle Schools

Better than 24% of New Mexico middle schools

Summary

Zia Middle is a 6th–8th grade school with 616 students on West University Avenue in Las Cruces, New Mexico, part of Las Cruces Public Schools. In 2025–2026 it ranked 146th of 191 New Mexico middle schools (24th percentile, 1 star), a slide from a decade ago when it sat near the state average (54th percentile in 2014–2015).

On 2025–2026 state tests, 31.26% of Zia students were proficient in language arts (district 44.73%, state 43.34%). Math reached 20.54% (district 24.50%, state 25.54%), and 8th-grade science 25.74% (district 36.82%, state 34.19%). Math is the relative strength and is improving — up from 13% in 2023–2024 to 20.73% this year — while language arts, especially 6th grade at 26.26%, trails furthest behind. Among eight nearby district middle schools, Zia ranks 6th of 8 overall: Camino Real Middle (83rd percentile) and the much smaller Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy (92nd percentile) far outperform, while Lynn Middle and Picacho Middle sit in the same bottom quartile.

Zia cut its student–teacher ratio from 17.4 to 10.2 in three years — second-best among nearby schools — yet proficiency still ranks 6th of 8, so staffing alone is not the limiting factor. Grade 8 is the weakest point (8th-grade math 15.5% versus 20.29% statewide), and English learner results sit at the very bottom of the state distribution (1st and 6th percentile in the two years reported). Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and enrollment has shrunk to 616, which makes single-year swings less reliable.

616

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,805

Per pupil spending ?

48.9%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

All students receive free meals (Community Eligibility, 2023-24)

All students in New Mexico receive free school meals.

1300 West University Ave
Las Cruces, NM 88001

(575) 527-9475

District: Las Cruces Public Schools

Students who attend Zia Middle usually attend:

High:	Arrowhead Park Early College High School
	Las Cruces High

Feeder schools for Zia Middle:

Elementary:	Central Elementary
	Mesilla Elementary
	Mesilla Park Elementary
	Tombaugh Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

80.2%

White:

15.9%

African American:

1.9%

See top rated New Mexico middle schools

Compare Zia Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 54th percentile in 2015 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Mexico average (26% vs 36% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school26%

District avg37%

New Mexico avg36%

146^th of 191

New Mexico public middle schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 8Middle 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	23.9	146 of 191	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.3	120 of 192	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	22.2	125 of 165	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.0	160 of 239	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.0	191 of 232	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.9	142 of 200	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.8	100 of 186	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.3	97 of 176	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	41.3	106 of 208	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	44.2	96 of 207	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	60.5	69 of 222	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.6	75 of 193	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.8	78 of 178	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	48.1	80 of 173	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	51.9	72 of 179	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2009	42.2	99 of 178	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	50.6	75 of 172	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.3	60 of 171	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.8	43 of 156	72.4%	★★★★☆
2005	69.9	38 of 157	75.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2023	40.4	21 of 38	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2018	58.3	12 of 52	76.9%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	10.0	102 of 108	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.8	96 of 97	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	24.7	100 of 136	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.9	127 of 162	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.3	181 of 213	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	16.5	172 of 220	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.7	108 of 160	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.3	97 of 156	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	21.1	116 of 143	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.8	113 of 148	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.6	127 of 154	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	167 of 204	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.0	178 of 214	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.6	117 of 150	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.4	95 of 149	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	100 of 133	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.3	100 of 173	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.6	109 of 144	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.4	143 of 227	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	20.8	167 of 223	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.6	150 of 175	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.8	114 of 168	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	18.1	123 of 145	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.2	126 of 161	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.6	135 of 221	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	15.3	170 of 213	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.5	122 of 152	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.9	82 of 151	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	36.4	5 of 6	16.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2023	28.5	56 of 100	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	19.2	53 of 58	8.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	46.7	22 of 44	50.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	19.7	138 of 170	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.4	117 of 178	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	18.1	114 of 142	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.3	169 of 229	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.4	146 of 187	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.4	85 of 121	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.3	49 of 120	59.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2018)77th percentile+31 vs school

African American (2023)45th percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2023)44th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)26th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)25th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)19th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-5 vs school

Pacific Islander (2022)17th percentile~ school

Male (2026)15th percentile-8 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)6th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts31%-13 vs state

Science26%-8 vs state

Mathematics21%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Zia Middle

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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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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 8th Grade	NM-ASR Science All Grades	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
Zia Middle	Public	6-8	1300 West University Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9475	616	60	10.2	48.9%	98 (15.9%)	12 (1.9%)	494 (80.2%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.8%)	23.9	146^th of 191 public middle schools	23.6%		32.3	120^th of 192 public middle schools	37.5%	26	26.2		26.3	35.6	33.0	31.4	24.2	22.2	16.1	20.7	$8,805
La Academia Dolores Huerta	Public, Charter	6-8	400 West Bell Ave	Las Cruces	88005	Doña Ana County	La Academia Dolores Huerta	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-5800	0	6	.0	—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)				41.2		29.5		< 20%		< 10%	$10,699
Lynn Middle	Public	6-8	950 South Walnut St	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9445	507	52	9.8	62.9%	75 (14.8%)	12 (2.4%)	399 (78.7%)	5 (1.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.4%)	19.4	161^st of 191 public middle schools	15.7%		16.6	167^th of 192 public middle schools	13.0%	6	28.1		30.6	32.8	30.2	31.2	12.5	19.2	7.2	12.7	$8,523
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy	Public	6-8	950 South Walnut St	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-6059	94	6	15.6	17.0%	42 (44.7%)	1 (1.1%)	48 (51.1%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	91.8	16^th of 191 public middle schools	91.6%		83.7	27^th of 192 public middle schools	85.9%	11	84.4		80.7	80.6	84.4	81.8	50.0	50.0	43.8	48.0	$10,283
Picacho Middle	Public	6-8	1040 North Motel Blvd	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9455	698	61	11.4	46.4%	102 (14.6%)	9 (1.3%)	577 (82.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	20.3	157^th of 191 public middle schools	17.8%		28.1	135^th of 192 public middle schools	29.7%	22	25.3		21.6	31.9	42.8	32.7	18.0	13.2	9.8	13.4	$9,072
Sierra Middle	Public	6-8	1700 E Spruce Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9640	698	66	10.6	48.0%	96 (13.8%)	15 (2.1%)	574 (82.2%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.7%)	40.2	101^st of 191 public middle schools	47.1%		44.6	88^th of 192 public middle schools	54.2%	13	36.0		38.7	42.0	42.7	41.0	30.6	25.8	23.4	26.9	$8,018
Camino Real Middle	Public	6-8	2961 Roadrunner Pkwy	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-6030	933	84	11.1	30.7%	225 (24.1%)	17 (1.8%)	652 (69.9%)	16 (1.7%)	6 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	15 (1.6%)	77.4	32^nd of 191 public middle schools	83.2%		69.5	47^th of 192 public middle schools	75.5%	15	58.1		61.2	68.3	58.1	62.4	48.3	35.3	34.7	38.7	$7,720
Vista Middle	Public	6-8	4465 Elks Dr	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9465	574	56	10.2	44.4%	54 (9.4%)	7 (1.2%)	495 (86.2%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	47.9	86^th of 191 public middle schools	55.0%		39.7	101^st of 192 public middle schools	47.4%	15	31.1		47.5	56.9	51.6	52.0	33.7	28.2	12.5	24.7	$8,507
Mesa Middle	Public	6-8	7225 Jornada Rd North	Las Cruces	88001	Doña Ana County	Las Cruces Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9510	728	47	15.6	40.0%	90 (12.4%)	13 (1.8%)	595 (81.7%)	7 (1.0%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (2.1%)	25.1	144^th of 191 public middle schools	24.6%		31.2	124^th of 192 public middle schools	35.4%	20	29.0		32.7	40.9	36.8	37.0	24.1	14.7	8.8	16.2	$8,992

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