Zuni Middle

Zuni Middle is a 240-student school serving grades 7 through 9 in Zuni, New Mexico, part of Zuni Public Schools. Because no other schools lie within 20 miles, the only benchmarks available are the district and the state. Nearly all students are economically disadvantaged — 100% qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024-2025 — and the student-teacher ratio has improved to 10.4, down from 11.9 three years earlier.

The biggest news is the trend. For a decade Zuni Middle sat at the bottom of New Mexico's middle schools, earning zero stars in seven of ten reported years. In 2025-2026 it reached the 40th percentile with 2 stars — the best result in its record and a third straight year of improvement (3rd, then 25th, then 40th percentile). English language arts is now essentially at the state average: 41.96% proficient versus 43.34% statewide, and about 9 points above the district. Math remains the weak spot at 16.31% proficient against 25.54% statewide. Seventh-grade math is the sharpest weakness, more than 11 points below the state, while eighth-grade math is within about 3 points. Science, near 32%, is close to the state's 34.33%. State tests cover only grades 7 and 8, so the ninth-grade class is not reflected.

The gains appear broad. Low-income students, who make up essentially the whole school, now rank at the 56th percentile statewide — above the school's own 40th percentile — and male students rank at the 50th. Because Zuni Middle is effectively the only provider of grades 7 and 8 in Zuni Public Schools, its scores are also the district's scores; the district ranks 83rd of 87 in the state, so beating district averages is a low bar. Two cautions for parents: 2023-2024 was an unusually weak year, so part of the improvement is recovery from a trough, and current results for English language learners and students with disabilities are missing or years out of date, leaving a real blind spot.