WHITE SANDS ELEMENTARY

LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1 VIKING ST WHITE SANDS MISSIL
LAS CRUCES, NM 88002
275 Students
Elementary School Pre-K - 8th
School Overview
White Sands Elementary School, located within the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, serves as a unique educational institution primarily catering to the children of military personnel and Department of Defense civilians stationed at the installation. Operated by the Las Cruces Public Schools district, the school functions as a close-knit community hub where the curriculum and environment are specifically designed to support the mobile lifestyle and specific needs of military-connected families. Its remote location provides a distinct, secure setting that fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and stability for its students.

The school emphasizes academic achievement while providing essential social-emotional support to help students transition through frequent relocations common in military life. By leveraging the proximity to the missile range, the school often integrates themes of science, technology, and service into its culture. Overall, White Sands Elementary is recognized for its dedication to excellence and its vital role in ensuring that children of those who serve the country receive a quality education in a supportive, mission-focused environment.
275
Total Students
21.0
Full-Time Teachers
13.1
Student/Teacher Ratio
98.2%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • White
    121 (44.0 %)
  • Hispanic
    111 (40.4 %)
  • Two or More
    22 (8.0 %)
  • Black
    8 (2.9 %)
  • Asian
    6 (2.2 %)
  • Pacific Islander
    5 (1.8 %)
  • American Indian
    2 (0.7 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Elementary School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Phone: (575)674-1241
Website: http://wss.lcps.net/o/wss
Grade Range: Pre-K - 8th
Total Students: 275
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 21.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 13.1
NSLP Participation:1 Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch: 270
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

1 National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught
Pre-Kindergarten 11
Kindergarten 24
Grade 1 27
Grade 2 27
Grade 3 38
Grade 4 28
Grade 5 34
Grade 6 26
Grade 7 35
Grade 8 25
Gender Ratio