Hot Springs High

Hot Springs High is a public high school in the small town of T Or C, New Mexico, serving roughly 347 students in grades 9–12 as part of T Or C Municipal Schools. It is the only school within 20 miles, so there are no nearby schools to compare it against — the district and the state are the best available benchmarks. The district itself ranks near the bottom of New Mexico, 84th of 87.

Academically, the school's test results sit below state levels in every reported subject. In 2025–2026, about 29.6% of students met standards in language arts versus 43.3% statewide, and all-grades math proficiency was 9.88% against New Mexico's 25.54%. SAT math came in at 8.75%, and 11th-grade math was under 10%. The state suppressed 10th-grade language arts and math results, so those cannot be evaluated. Math is clearly the weakest area. Graduation is the bright spot: rates have topped the state every year, including 85.6% in 2024–2025 compared with 80.6% statewide. The student-to-teacher ratio has also improved, from 15.8 down to 13.9 students per teacher.

The school's overall standing has swung widely. It placed 43rd of 131 schools (67th percentile, 3 stars) in 2024–2025 but fell to 96th of 132 (27th percentile, 1 star) in 2025–2026. Effectiveness rankings for low-income students also dropped sharply, from the 72nd percentile in 2024–2025 to the 6th percentile this year. Every student was eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in each of the last three years, which makes the above-state graduation rate especially meaningful. Because the school has not been a consistent low performer, the current-year decline stands out as the main concern rather than a long-running pattern.