Barranca Mesa Elementary

Summary:

Barranca Mesa Elementary is a public elementary school located in Los Alamos, New Mexico, serving grades PK-6 with a student population of 419. The school is part of the Los Alamos Public Schools district, which is ranked 3rd out of 119 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Barranca Mesa Elementary consistently ranks among the top 32 elementary schools in New Mexico, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school outperformed the state average in proficiency rates for Language Arts (62% vs. 38%), Mathematics (57% vs. 24%), and Science (52% vs. 34%). The school's performance is particularly strong in Language Arts, with 6th-grade students achieving an 83.3% proficiency rate, significantly higher than the state average of 32.9%. Barranca Mesa Elementary also has a diverse student population, with 57.76% White, 34.13% Hispanic, and 3.34% Asian students, which is higher than the nearby Pinon Elementary (63.24% White) and Mountain Elementary (57.24% White) schools.

Additionally, Barranca Mesa Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.4 to 12.7 over the past three school years, which is lower than the nearby Chamisa Elementary (12.5) and Aspen Elementary (13.0) schools. The school also has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 14.63% to 16.71% over the past three school years, which is lower than the more economically disadvantaged schools like James Rodriguez Elementary (100%) and Pojoaque Intermediate (68.98%).


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 57 Loma Del Escolar
       Los Alamos, NM  87544


(505) 663-2730

District: Los Alamos

SchoolDigger Rank:
32nd of 435 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,021 Help


Students who attend Barranca Mesa Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Los Alamos Middle
High:    Los Alamos High

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  419

Racial breakdown:

White:
57.8%
Hispanic:
34.1%
Asian:
3.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  16.7% Help


 See top rated New Mexico elementary schools

 Compare Barranca Mesa Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Barranca Mesa Elementary ranks better than 92.6% of elementary schools in New Mexico. It also ranks last among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Los Alamos School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 94.81. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (57.8%), Hispanic (34.1%), Asian (3.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 16.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Barranca Mesa Elementary is 12.3, which is the lowest among 5 elementary schools in the Los Alamos School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Barranca Mesa Elementary employs 34 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Barranca Mesa Elementary is $11,021. 3 elementary schools in the Los Alamos School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Barranca Mesa Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Barranca Mesa Elementary 32nd of 435 New Mexico public elementary schools. (See Barranca Mesa Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Los Alamos:

SchoolDigger ranks Los Alamos 3rd of 119 New Mexico school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Barranca Mesa Elementary?

Rank History for Barranca Mesa Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 96.80 8th 389 97.9%
2006 93.47 18th 390 95.4%
2007 94.95 8th 398 98.0%
2008 94.37 8th 405 98.0%
2009 94.84 10th 411 97.6%
2010 94.39 9th 419 97.9%
2011 97.80 5th 402 98.8%
2012 96.61 10th 398 97.5%
2013 96.28 8th 412 98.1%
2014 96.13 8th 442 98.2%
2015 99.17 4th 421 99.0%
2016 97.48 7th 410 98.3%
2017 97.02 10th 374 97.3%
2018 91.45 12th 383 96.9%
2019 87.04 29th 396 92.7%
2022 90.85 25th 420 94.0%
2023 94.81 32nd 435 92.6%
See the entire list of New Mexico Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 58.82 27th 91 70.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 64.17 48th 203 76.4%
2023 70.72 54th 191 71.7%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 84.11 25th 165 84.8%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.70 169th 356 52.5%
2023 46.47 230th 426 46.0%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.87 12th 339 96.5%
2019 90.02 16th 343 95.3%
2022 91.56 21st 395 94.7%
2023 94.34 26th 390 93.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.73 3rd 35 91.4%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.46 27th 333 91.9%
2019 73.17 59th 337 82.5%
2022 83.36 33rd 392 91.6%
2023 93.77 35th 414 91.5%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.65 54th 329 83.6%
2019 68.42 69th 320 78.4%
2022 50.39 137th 389 64.8%
2023 53.76 164th 395 58.5%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Barranca Mesa Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.03 12th 187 93.6%
2019 77.09 26th 199 86.9%
2022 92.03 7th 325 97.8%
2023 92.78 38th 413 90.8%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: New Mexico Public Education Department, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Barranca Mesa Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)
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100%

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by a parent
Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Open Quote This school is not what it once was, and it is far from the best school in Los Alamos. If your child is a student here: 1) expect unresponsive teachers who manage your child thru their online grade books as opposed to personal contact with parents 2) expect teachers NOT to contact you if your child is struggling 3 ) expect teachers who just deliver the core standards without truly educating children and, 4) expect teachers who hide behind newsletters and webpages. It has been my experience that a concerned parent is treated as an intrusive bother. Bottom line: mediocre instruction that requires continuous parental vigilance and frequent engagement. Even then, do not expect results or acceptance of responsibility for subpar performance by staff. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Barranca Mesa Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 341 1 9 37 0 n/a n/a 0 388
1991 319 0 15 35 5 n/a n/a 0 374
1992 339 0 13 33 1 n/a n/a 0 386
1993 368 4 17 36 2 n/a n/a 0 427
1994 390 2 17 45 1 n/a n/a 0 455
1995 386 0 18 55 1 n/a n/a 0 460
1996 386 0 18 55 1 n/a n/a 0 460
1997 359 0 17 58 3 n/a n/a 0 437
1998 387 0 22 58 4 n/a n/a 0 471
1999 370 2 23 62 3 n/a n/a 0 460
2000 377 3 35 62 2 n/a n/a 0 479
2001 347 2 28 71 4 n/a n/a 0 452
2002 362 3 34 79 2 n/a n/a 0 480
2003 362 3 34 79 2 n/a n/a 0 480
2004 350 1 44 75 1 n/a n/a 0 471
2005 354 1 51 81 0 n/a n/a 0 487
2006 327 1 46 86 0 n/a n/a 0 460
2007 293 2 45 88 0 n/a n/a 0 428
2008 264 2 43 77 0 n/a n/a 0 386
2009 253 3 35 70 0 n/a n/a 0 361
2010 272 4 30 85 1 0 0 0 392
2011 275 6 37 88 3 0 0 0 409
2012 271 7 30 87 5 0 3 0 403
2013 269 6 27 96 11 0 3 0 412
2014 258 3 26 107 7 0 4 0 405
2015 228 4 24 122 8 0 7 0 393
2016 243 2 26 146 8 0 13 0 438
2017 238 2 22 155 8 0 11 0 436
2018 258 2 19 159 6 0 22 0 466
2019 273 0 21 167 5 0 21 0 487
2020 278 0 25 151 4 0 24 0 482
2021 236 0 18 136 4 0 19 0 413
2022 240 0 16 140 4 0 17 0 417
2023 242 2 14 143 3 2 13 0 419

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Barranca Mesa Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 388 24.6 15.7 n/a
1991 374 24.5 15.2 n/a
1992 386 26.6 14.5 n/a
1993 427 27.6 15.5 n/a
1994 455 27.7 16.4 n/a
1995 460 31.7 14.5 n/a
1996 460 31.7 14.5 n/a
1997 437 30.0 14.6 n/a
1998 471 30.5 15.4 n/a
1999 460 30.2 15.2 0
2000 479 32.2 14.9 0
2001 452 31.5 14.3 0
2002 480 32.2 14.9 0
2003 480 32.2 14.9 0
2004 471 33.5 14.1 0
2005 487 33.8 14.4 0
2006 460 34.5 13.3 0
2007 428 33.2 12.9 0
2008 386 33.6 11.5 n/a
2009 361 30.8 11.7 n/a
2010 392 30.3 12.9 n/a
2011 409 28.1 14.5 0
2012 403 29.8 13.5 0
2013 412 29.4 13.9 14.8
2014 405 29.7 13.6 10.6
2015 393 31.0 12.6 12.5
2016 438 32.0 13.6 16.2
2017 436 28.2 15.4 17.9
2018 466 31.9 14.5 17.8
2019 487 32.8 14.8 9.9
2020 482 32.2 14.9 11.4
2021 413 32.5 12.7 14.8
2022 417 36.5 11.4 14.6
2023 419 34.0 12.3 16.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Barranca Mesa Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 388 24.6 15.7 n/a
1991 374 24.5 15.2 n/a
1992 386 26.6 14.5 n/a
1993 427 27.6 15.5 n/a
1994 455 27.7 16.4 n/a
1995 460 31.7 14.5 n/a
1996 460 31.7 14.5 n/a
1997 437 30.0 14.6 n/a
1998 471 30.5 15.4 n/a
1999 460 30.2 15.2 0
2000 479 32.2 14.9 0
2001 452 31.5 14.3 0
2002 480 32.2 14.9 0
2003 480 32.2 14.9 0
2004 471 33.5 14.1 0
2005 487 33.8 14.4 0
2006 460 34.5 13.3 0
2007 428 33.2 12.9 0
2008 386 33.6 11.5 n/a
2009 361 30.8 11.7 n/a
2010 392 30.3 12.9 n/a
2011 409 28.1 14.5 0
2012 403 29.8 13.5 0
2013 412 29.4 13.9 14.8
2014 405 29.7 13.6 10.6
2015 393 31.0 12.6 12.5
2016 438 32.0 13.6 16.2
2017 436 28.2 15.4 17.9
2018 466 31.9 14.5 17.8
2019 487 32.8 14.8 9.9
2020 482 32.2 14.9 11.4
2021 413 32.5 12.7 14.8
2022 417 36.5 11.4 14.6
2023 419 34.0 12.3 16.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Barranca Mesa Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $11,021

Data source: New Mexico Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Barranca Mesa Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 29th of 396 Elementary schoolsRanks 32nd of 435 Elementary schools
 0%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Language Arts (Barranca Mesa Elementary)3859.6
 21.6%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)5069.6
 19.6%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3031.8
 1.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Barranca Mesa Elementary)4955.8
 6.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)5565.8
 10.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)3222.5
 9.5%
4th Grade Language Arts (Barranca Mesa Elementary)4546
 1%
   4th Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)5866
 8%
   4th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3035.2
 5.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Barranca Mesa Elementary)4942
 7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)6059.1
 0.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2724.5
 2.5%
5th Grade Language Arts (Barranca Mesa Elementary)4856.1
 8.1%
   5th Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)5466.5
 12.5%
   5th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3335.7
 2.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Barranca Mesa Elementary)3856.1
 18.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)4463.9
 19.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2430.7
 6.7%
6th Grade Language Arts (Barranca Mesa Elementary)7283.3
 11.3%
   6th Grade Language Arts (Los Alamos)6070.2
 10.2%
   6th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3132.9
 1.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Barranca Mesa Elementary)6278
 16%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Los Alamos)5370.1
 17.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)1932.5
 13.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students487419
 14%
African American02
American Indian53
 40%
Asian2114
 33.3%
Hispanic167143
 14.4%
Pacific Islander02
White273242
 11.4%
Two or More Races2113
 38.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients9.9%16.7%
 6.9%


Schools Near Barranca Mesa Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Barranca Mesa Elementary

Yes. Barranca Mesa Elementary ranks in the top 7.4% of New Mexico elementary schools.

Students who attend Barranca Mesa Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Los Alamos Middle
High : Los Alamos High

Students at Barranca Mesa Elementary are 58% White, 34% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 419 students attended Barranca Mesa Elementary.


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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.





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