Despite increased spending, New Mexico remains at the bottom of national education rankings. The state ranks around 33rd in per-student spending, surpassing neighboring states, yet results have not improved.
New Mexico's government continues to invest more money and time into the current system, with projections for $33,000 per student spending and extended classroom hours compared to other states. However, these efforts have not yielded significant improvements.
A comparison with Arizona highlights differences in educational outcomes. Both states once had similar populations and economies, but Arizona has experienced growth through education reform and free-market policies. In contrast, New Mexico maintains its current approach.
50CAN, a nonprofit organization focused on building a student-centered American education system, conducted a survey titled "The State of Educational Opportunity in America: A Survey of 20,000 Parents." The survey found that only 35% of New Mexico parents are satisfied with their child's school compared to higher satisfaction rates in neighboring states and nationally.
Sports participation is also lower in New Mexico at 54%, compared to 62% in Arizona. This lack of engagement is seen as detrimental to students' mental and physical health as well as community involvement.
Only 27% of New Mexico parents feel confident about their child's workforce readiness, below the national average of 34%. Schools are perceived as failing to equip students with necessary skills.
New Mexico ranked below the national average in nearly all areas surveyed by 50CAN except tutoring participation. This indicates parental interest in improving children's education despite systemic challenges.
Arizona's embrace of school choice is highlighted as a successful strategy. The state has facilitated charter schools' establishment, mandated open enrollment, provided tax credits for scholarships, and allowed parents access to state funds for their children's education. These measures have led to positive outcomes.
The survey also shows private and charter schools often outperform public schools in parental satisfaction. School choice creates competition within the education system where successful schools thrive while others become obsolete.
While school choice is one option for improvement, public school reform is deemed essential by the Rio Grande Foundation (RGF). Their project Opportunity for All Kids NM aims to enhance statewide education quality and inform parents about school choice options.
