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Portales Junior High

Q: Is Portales Junior High a good school?

Portales Junior High ranks 95 th of 192 New Mexico middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

95^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 192 New Mexico Middle Schools

Better than 51% of New Mexico middle schools

Summary

Portales Junior High is a public middle school in Portales, New Mexico, serving 347 students in grades 7-8. The school is part of the Portales District, which is ranked 51 out of 82 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Portales Junior High has maintained a consistent 3-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past several years, ranking between the 54th and 95th percentile among New Mexico middle schools.

Portales Junior High's student performance is generally on par with or slightly above the state averages, with 43.05% proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and 23.18% proficient in Math for the 2024-2025 school year. The school's 8th grade ELA proficiency rate of 48.2% is higher than the state average of 46.45%, indicating stronger performance in the upper grades. However, the 7th grade Math proficiency rate of 22.7% is lower than the state average of 26.44%, suggesting a potential area for improvement. The school has shown relatively strong performance for its Hispanic and English Language Learner (ELL) student subgroups, but weaker performance for its Multi-racial and Special Education student subgroups.

Despite having a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 59.8% to 85.3% over the past few years, Portales Junior High's performance for its low socioeconomic status (SES) students has been relatively strong, ranking in the top half of New Mexico middle schools in recent years. However, the school has experienced fluctuations in its student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.6 to 115.6 students per teacher over the past few years, which may impact the consistency and quality of instruction and support provided to students.

326

Students ?

9.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,623

Per pupil spending ?

99.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 East 3rd St
Portales, NM 88130

(575) 356-7045

District: Portales

Students who attend Portales Junior High usually attend:

High:

Portales High

Feeder schools for Portales Junior High:

Elementary:	Brown Early Childhood Center
	James Elementary
	Valencia Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

70.6%

White:

20.9%

Two or more races:

4.3%

See top rated New Mexico middle schools

Compare Portales Junior High to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 50th percentile in 2014 → 51st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the New Mexico median (51st percentile)

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg37%

New Mexico avg35%

95^th of 192

New Mexico public middle schools ?

Top 49%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

51^st of 82Portales 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
2025	43.1	95 of 192	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.9	54 of 165	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.6	81 of 239	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.2	86 of 232	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.4	73 of 200	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.1	57 of 186	69.4%	★★★★☆
2017	52.9	67 of 176	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	35.1	132 of 208	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.8	105 of 207	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	48.7	110 of 222	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.7	92 of 193	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	56.9	69 of 178	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	31.8	115 of 173	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.6	66 of 179	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.5	48 of 178	73.0%	★★★★☆
2008	57.4	62 of 172	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	47.4	85 of 171	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.1	44 of 156	71.8%	★★★★☆
2005	66.1	44 of 157	72.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	48.8	27 of 55	50.9%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	69.6	18 of 108	83.3%	★★★★☆
2023	58.5	17 of 97	82.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	45.9	58 of 162	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.0	62 of 213	70.9%	★★★★☆
2022	54.8	63 of 220	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	55.0	60 of 160	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.0	24 of 156	84.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	43.2	63 of 148	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.6	46 of 154	70.1%	★★★★☆
2023	52.0	79 of 204	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.7	92 of 214	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.9	52 of 150	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.8	68 of 149	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	46.6	78 of 173	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.8	49 of 144	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.3	55 of 227	75.8%	★★★★☆
2022	48.4	82 of 223	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.9	65 of 175	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.4	71 of 168	57.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	47.8	50 of 161	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	45.6	105 of 221	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.8	89 of 213	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.9	54 of 152	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.4	77 of 151	49.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2022	35.3	50 of 65	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2023	28.4	57 of 100	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	22.5	50 of 58	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2025	39.2	92 of 178	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.3	55 of 142	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.9	82 of 229	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.4	49 of 187	73.8%	★★★★☆
2019	46.3	60 of 121	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.7	26 of 120	78.3%	★★★★☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)83rd percentile+16 vs school

Male (2024)69th percentile~ school

Female (2024)64th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)57th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)55th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2022)51st percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)48th percentile~ school

Special Education (2023)43rd percentile-23 vs school

Multi-racial (2022)23rd percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts43%~ state avg

Science38%+3 vs state

Mathematics23%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Portales Junior High

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NM-ASR Science (2025)			NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2025)					NM-MSSA Mathematics (2025)					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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 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 5th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 6th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 7th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 8th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Portales Junior High	Public	7-8	700 East 3rd St	Portales	88130	Roosevelt County	Portales	No	(n/a)	No	No	(575) 356-7045	326	36	9.0	99.7%	68 (20.9%)	8 (2.5%)	230 (70.6%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	43.1	95^th of 192 public middle schools	50.5%		47.9	54^th of 165 public middle schools	67.3%	41		37.7				38.7	48.2	43.1			22.7	23.7	23.2	$9,623
Lindsey-Steiner Elementary	Public	5-6	1000 North Ave M	Portales	88130	Roosevelt County	Portales	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 356-7060	376	28	13.4	99.7%	99 (26.3%)	14 (3.7%)	239 (63.6%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (5.1%)								(n/a)	27.3			42.4	44.4			43.4	30.9	29.8			30.3	$9,081
Floyd Middle	Public	5-8	1564 Nm 267	Floyd	88118	Roosevelt County	Floyd	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 478-2211	72	7	10.1	83.3%	19 (26.4%)	1 (1.4%)	51 (70.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	44.6	89^th of 192 public middle schools	53.6%		50.6	48^th of 165 public middle schools	70.9%	41			26.5	52.9	38.9	53.9	41.2	46.2		38.9			21.5	$13,661
Marshall 6th Grade Academy	Public	6	100 Commerce Way	Clovis	88101	Curry County	Clovis	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 769-4300	511	43	11.8	83.8%	131 (25.6%)	25 (4.9%)	329 (64.4%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.7%)								(n/a)					48.0			48.0		43.4			43.4	$8,513
Yucca Middle	Public	7-8	1500 Sycamore	Clovis	88101	Curry County	Clovis	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 769-4300	480	28	17.2	85.4%	107 (22.3%)	29 (6.0%)	328 (68.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	10 (2.1%)	41.5	98^th of 192 public middle schools	49.0%		33.9	90^th of 165 public middle schools	45.5%	8		40.1				43.6	40.8	42.2			25.9	17.5	21.7	$7,668
W D Gattis Middle School	Public	6-8	5100 N. Thornton Street	Clovis	88101	Curry County	Clovis	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 769-4305	527	37	14.3	88.2%	138 (26.2%)	46 (8.7%)	312 (59.2%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	23 (4.4%)	44	92^nd of 192 public middle schools	52.1%		51.3	45^th of 165 public middle schools	72.7%	47		35.8				45.4	48.0	46.6			26.0	16.6	21.5	$8,769

Frequently Asked Questions about Portales Junior High

What high school do graduates of Portales Junior High attend?

Students who attend Portales Junior High usually go on to attend Portales High

What is the racial makeup of Portales Junior High?

Students at Portales Junior High are 71% Hispanic, 21% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Portales Junior High a good school?

Portales Junior High ranks 95^th of 192 New Mexico middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Portales Junior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 326 students attended Portales Junior High.

What district is Portales Junior High in?

Portales

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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.