Best Public Schools in Zip Code 87553

Summary:

The 87553 zip code area is home to 3 schools in the Penasco school district, including 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school. While Penasco High School stands out as the highest-performing school in the area, the elementary and middle schools face significant challenges, with lower-than-average test scores and very high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Penasco High School is the clear standout, consistently ranking in the top 30-44 high schools in the state and earning a 4-out-of-5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Its 78% four-year graduation rate is also noteworthy. In contrast, Penasco Elementary and Penasco Middle School lag behind state averages in key subject areas, with proficiency rates as low as 17.74% in math at the elementary level.

The high poverty levels in the district, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 89.47% to 100%, likely contribute to the academic challenges faced by these schools. While the student-teacher ratios vary, with the high school having a much lower ratio than the elementary and middle schools, targeted interventions and support may be needed to improve outcomes for these students and ensure they have access to a high-quality education.

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-MSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts All Grades	NM-MSSA Mathematics 5th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Penasco Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	13 School Rd	Penasco	87553	Taos County	Penasco	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 587-2230	127	7	17.8	100.0%	6 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	111 (87.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	56.3	112^th of 345 public elementary schools	67.5%		51.9	163^rd of 413 public elementary schools	60.5%	51	36.0		36.4	60.0			45.2	36.0	17.7	$14,409
Penasco High	Public	9-12	13 School Rd	Penasco	87553	Taos County	Penasco	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 587-2230	75	6	12.7	100.0%	3 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (81.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										$17,459
Penasco Middle	Public	6-8	13 School Rd	Penasco	87553	Taos County	Penasco	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 587-2230	74	5	15.5	100.0%	3 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (86.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.1%)	57.2	64^th of 192 public middle schools	66.7%		39.7	75^th of 165 public middle schools	54.5%	11		52.6			37.9	57.9	40.0		10.0	$13,109

Cities Near Zip Code 87553

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Penasco	3.3 mi	3	27^th
Dixon	8.03 mi	1
Espanola	12.42 mi	12	83^rd
Velarde	13.25 mi	1
Ranchos De Taos	15.04 mi	1	70^th

See the top NM New Mexico cities

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.