LCPS is the second largest school district in NM. Located 45 miles north of the US/Mexico border, the school district covers the middle third of Doña Ana Co.; the district encompasses all of Las Cruces.
The district has 33 schools with a student population that exceeds 22,200 students. There are 22 elementary, 7 middle, and four high schools. The district also has one training center for special education students.
The elementary schools are kindergarten through 5th grades with the exception of two adjacent schools-César Chávez (K-2nd) and Sunrise (3rd-5th). Middle schools are 6th through 8th grades and high schools are 9th through 12th.
LCPS has more than 3,100 employees, making it the third largest employer in Doña Ana Co.
District Enrollment: 22,200
Student Ethnicity: Hispanic 65.6%; Anglo 30.3%; African American 2.3%; Asian 1.0%; Native A. .8%
Dropout Rate: 5.5% (A significantdecrease over last several years)
Graduate Rate: 94.5 percent
Attendance Rate: 96.2 percent
Percentage of Students Receiving Special Education Services: 26%
Percentage of Free/Reduced Lunches: 54.5%
SAT Achievement: Both math (517) and verbal (529) mean composite scores are higher than national averages
Percentage of Teachers with Masters' Degrees or higher: 40%
Starting Teacher Salary: $30,423.
Total District Budget 2002/03: $197,180,196.
Every bond issue since the 1950s has passed by local voters.