New Mexico Schools

    The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has named New Mexico one of 11 states to have all its standardized tests match up with its clear grade standards. According to the AFT, California, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia “lead the nation with systems that have strong content standards and tests that are aligned to the content standards in all grades.”

During the 2006 standardized testing required for the No Child Left Behind act, New Mexico tested 12 more schools than during the 2005 testing. However, four fewer schools made their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements this year. Each year, leading up to a goal of 100% proficiency in Math and Reading by 2014, requirements and goals are set higher. The national requirement in 2005-06 was for 40% of all students to be proficient (at grade level) in Math and Reading. In 2006-07, the bar will raise another four points to 44%. Eighteen schools did not make AYP simply because of the attendance or graduation rates. Only one school did not make the participation rate of 95% of students taking the test.

Not including federal funding for NCLB, New Mexico spent $2.1 billion in the 2005-06 school year, or more than $7,100 per student. With low test grades, New Mexico may be given more federal funding for projects to help improve test scores.

New Mexico was ranked 48 out of 50 in the 2005-06 school year “Smartest State” rankings, based on Morgan Quinto’s “Education State Rankings”. For more information on New Mexico’s schools, visit the Department of Education website at http://www.ped.state.nm.us.