Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

New Mexico · Public School District
28
Schools
12,551
Students
$15,234
Per-Pupil Spend
+6% nat'l
100.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+48pp vs nat'l
84.3%
Graduation Rate
-2.2pp vs nat'l
District Overview

GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS is a public school district in New Mexico serving 12,551 students across 28 schools. It includes 16 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 84.3% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $15,234 is near the national average for a US public school district. 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 40/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (28)
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
CHAPARRAL MIDDLE07–08608
GADSDEN MIDDLE07–08661
SANTA TERESA MIDDLE07–08625
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
ALTA VISTA EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL09–12201
CHAPARRAL HIGH09–121,067
DESERT PRIDE ACADEMY07–12262
GADSDEN HIGH09–121,322
SANTA TERESA HIGH09–121,198
Other Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
ANTHONY ON-TRACK PREK CENTERPK–PK161
CHAPARRAL ON-TRACK PREK CENTERPK–PK146
GADSDEN ADMIN COMPLEX PREK CENTERPK–PK163
LA MESA ON TRACK PREK CENTERPK–PK100
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,234Near national avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
68%
State
68.2%
Local (property tax)
10.1%
Federal
21.7%

State funding accounts for 68% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
28
Schools
12,551
Students
100%
Free Lunch
$15K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate84.3%
Opportunity Score40/100
StateNew Mexico →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 28 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
22% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS?
GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS has 28 public schools, serving a total of 12,551 students.
What is the graduation rate for GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS?
The graduation rate is 84.3%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS spend per student?
GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS spends $15,234 per pupil — 6% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS?
100% of students in GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS?
No, GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS serve?
GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS?
The median opportunity score across schools in GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS is 40/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.