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Portales Junior High

Q: Is Portales Junior High a good school?

Portales Junior High ranks 110 th of 191 New Mexico middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

110^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 191 New Mexico Middle Schools

Better than 42% of New Mexico middle schools

Summary

Portales Junior High is a middle school serving grades 7–8 in Portales, a small city in eastern New Mexico about 20 miles from Clovis, with 326 students enrolled in Portales Municipal Schools. In 2025–2026 it ranked 110th of 191 New Mexico schools (42nd percentile, 2 stars), down from the 67th percentile in 2023–2024 and the 51st percentile in 2024–2025 — a shift from 3 stars to 2 stars. Almost all students (99.69% in 2024–2025) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the highest rate among nearby schools compared here.

Academically, results are mixed but mostly below district and state levels. In 2025–2026, 39.14% of students were proficient in English language arts, compared with 42.94% in the district and 44.66% statewide. Math is the largest gap: 19.57% proficient versus 27.61% in the district and 27.85% statewide. Seventh-grade math was 18.5% proficient compared with 26.93% statewide, while 8th-grade math (20.25%) was essentially at the state average (20.29%). Eighth-grade science is a bright spot at 36.77% proficient versus 34.33% statewide. Every reported student subgroup ranked at or below the 45th percentile with 2 stars, a broad decline from earlier years.

Comparisons with nearby schools add helpful context. Lindsey-Steiner Elementary, the district's grades 5–6 school about a mile away, serves an almost identical population (99.73% free/reduced lunch) and posts nearly identical ELA results — but its math proficiency is 35.58%, roughly 16 points higher. In Clovis Municipal Schools, both W D Gattis Middle School and Yucca Middle outscore Portales in ELA and math. Floyd Middle is higher in math but lower in ELA and science, and its small size means many values are suppressed by the state. Earlier, the school was notably effective with English language learner students (4 stars, 82nd–83rd percentile in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024). Suppressed values should be treated as unknown rather than as evidence of weakness.

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 Municipal Schools

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: Declining — 49th percentile in 2015 → 42nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Mexico average (31% vs 36% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg35%

New Mexico avg36%

110^th of 191

New Mexico public middle schools ?

Bottom 42%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to bottom 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

61^st of 87Portales Municipal 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	34.0	110 of 191	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	28.4	89 of 136	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	31.0	94 of 143	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	31.2	88 of 133	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	35.5	80 of 145	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
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
2026	32.0	103 of 170	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
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

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

Male (2026)45th percentile~ school

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

White (2026)39th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)35th percentile-8 vs school

Hispanic (2026)34th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)34th percentile-9 vs school

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

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts39%-6 vs state

Science37%~ state avg

Mathematics20%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Portales Junior High

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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 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 Municipal Schools	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%)	34	110^th of 191 public middle schools	42.4%		43.1	95^th of 192 public middle schools	50.5%	15		36.8				40.7	37.4	39.1			18.6	20.7	19.6	$9,623
Lindsey-Steiner Elementary	Public	5-6	1000 North Ave M	Portales	88130	Roosevelt County	Portales Municipal Schools	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)	39.9			47.6	31.0			39.6	35.7	35.4			35.6	$9,081
Floyd Middle	Public	5-8	1564 Nm 267	Floyd	88118	Roosevelt County	Floyd Municipal Schools	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%)								(n/a)			28.0			44.4		36.2					24.1	$13,661
Marshall 6th Grade Academy	Public	6	100 Commerce Way	Clovis	88101	Curry County	Clovis Municipal Schools	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)					40.7					37.0				$8,513
Yucca Middle	Public	7-8	1500 Sycamore	Clovis	88101	Curry County	Clovis Municipal Schools	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%)	45.1	91^st of 191 public middle schools	52.4%		41.5	98^th of 192 public middle schools	49.0%	7		33.3				51.9	43.8	48.0			31.3	17.5	24.6	$7,668
W D Gattis Middle School	Public	6-8	5100 N. Thornton Street	Clovis	88101	Curry County	Clovis Municipal Schools	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%)	51.9	77^th of 191 public middle schools	59.7%		44	92^nd of 192 public middle schools	52.1%	15		38.0				55.1	46.9	51.0			30.2	22.8	26.5	$8,769

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