Diego Lopez, Editor
Editor’s Note: The following information was published in the November 20 edition of the Cibola Citizen, check out that edition of the newspaper for a comprehensive wrap-up of each school in the district, including middle and elementary schools. The data is not necessarily reflective of the current student results in the district as this data comes from the end of school year 202324, and the district is about to complete the first semester of school year 2024-25. The newspaper decided to republish this information because of the press release from Teach Plus.
All of the information in this section came from the New Mexico Vistas student achievement website: nmvistas.org.
Grants High School reports that 10 percent of students are proficient in math, 28 percent in reading, and 44 percent in science. This is a three point gain in math, six point gain in reading, and seven point gain in science since the previous year.
The school’s graduation rate has dropped slightly, with a -2.5 percent change over three years.
Dr. [Delton] Martin emphasized that these results reflect the district's investment in SAT preparation, including review materials and after-school support sessions. “You can't just send students into an exam without preparation,” Martin said. “Our focus on readiness is starting to make a difference.”
Laguna-Acoma High School faces considerable challenges, with math proficiency of less than five percent, and reading proficiency at 15 percent. Science proficiency stands at 23 percent, showing mixed performance across subjects.
LAHS had a math proficiency of less than 10 percent in the year prior but is now at less than five percent. The school has gained in reading by four points, and two points in science from the previous year.
Notably, Laguna-Acoma saw a 2.7 percent increase in its graduation rate over three years.
Dr. Martin attributed part of the drop in math to the loss of a key mathematics teacher last year due to visa restrictions, which left the school relying on substitutes. “Teacher availability has a significant impact on learning,” Martin explained, saying that the district is working to address staffing gaps while maintaining equity in resources, including a new $500,000 Mechatronics lab to support career and technical education.
Early College High School proficiency data remains masked due to small student population privacy concerns. However, the unique role of Early College High School within the district, in partnership with New Mexico State University, offers students an alternative pathway toward earning both a high school diploma and an associate degree.
Students at this school are required to apply, allowing only high performing students to access this opportunity and receive their AA at the same time as their high school degree.