New zones go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year
In three separate motions, the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved new school attendance zones for elementary, middle and high school students. The votes followed months of collaboration and recommendations from the Redistricting Advisory Committee, principals, parents, students, and school communities.
The approved zones (maps are included below) included Option 1 for elementary schools, Option 3 for middle schools and Option 3 (revised) for high schools. The revised third option for high schools was created following feedback from parents and staff that provided for a better balance among comprehensive high school populations. Option 1 for elementary schools will impact approximately 500 students, Option 3 for the middle school zones will impact approximately 273 students and the revised Option 3 for the high school zones will impact about 683 students. In all, the number of students impacted by redistricting is less than seven percent of the total LCPS student population.
During their discussion Tuesday night, the board expressed concern that siblings are not split between zones, transfer policies be monitored and that students in 5th, 8th, 11th and 12th grade be allowed to continue at their current school, regardless of the new zones, along with their siblings who are currently enrolled at the same school.
Background and methodology
The district launched the redistricting process to address critical issues in LCPS, such as overcrowding in East Mesa schools, balancing enrollment at comprehensive high schools, planning for the opening of Columbia Elementary School and adjusting for demographic shifts across the district. The district was particularly focused on balancing school capacities, improving transportation, and planning for long-term growth, including the potential construction of new schools in growing areas along U.S. Highway 70.
Colleen Martinez, the contracted consultant who led the demographic research and mapping, explained to the board how information related to community population shifts impact school demographics. Those shifts included the Las Cruces housing market and planned developments, LCPS enrollment and transfer data, and Doña Ana County birth rates.
In August, the district solicited the public for participation in the Redistricting Advisory Committee. The work of the committee included studying demographic shifts, helping to shape a community survey that went out to all LCPS students, parents and staff, and making recommendations for zone changes to the board. The committee was also tasked with providing feedback and recommendations on Policy JFB, which governs student transfers.
Next steps
The district will now begin the work of geo-coding all student addresses in the district according to the new attendance zones. Next semester, all students will receive a letter indicating which school they are zoned for and instructions on the transfer process, if applicable. Students who are rostered with an NMAA-sanctioned activity or sport at their current school will not need to complete a transfer application.
Micro-adjustments, or minor updates to the attendance zones, could be necessary as the new maps are put into place. Making these adjustments, according to Martinez, is something that is usually not recommended on an annual basis but could be essential if new housing developments prompt an unexpected spike in certain school populations.
“As we continue to monitor our numbers,” explained LCPS Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz, “the adjustment could affect incoming kindergarten, 6th or 9th grade students to minimize the impact to the district. What we don’t want is to wait too long to do this very important work; we need to be proactive for future planning.”
LCPS Chief of Student Services and Community Relations, Sherley O’Brien, led the redistricting effort and participated in Tuesday’s presentation to the board.
“We are grateful for the work of the committee, our school administrators and parents who participated in this process,” noted O’Brien. “Their commitment to this district ensures equitable learning spaces that will allow all students to thrive, which is the mission of our district.”
The redistricting process was updated on the LCPS website. New zones go into effect for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Option 1, approved for elementary attendance zones (east):
Option 1, approved for elementary attendance zones (west):
Option 3, approved for middle school attendance zones:
Option 3, revised, approved for high school attendance zones (north):
Option 3, revised, approved for high school attendance zones (south):
