Stefani Lord, a House Representative from New Mexico, has said that the state's last-place ranking in education highlights persistent issues that lawmakers have not addressed. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"New Mexico ranked the worst school system in the nation, again," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "New Mexico ranked last overall on the list. In individual metrics, New Mexico ranked last in math test scores, reading test scores, and median SAT score. Congratulations, elected Democrats! You must take immense pride in being at the top of the list for failure, as you've consistently betrayed the people of New Mexico by refusing to address the critical issues at hand."
New Mexico's public schools have consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation for several years. According to U.S. News & World Report, state leaders attribute this poor performance to factors such as high poverty rates and teacher shortages. In response, they have introduced reforms focusing on early literacy and teacher pay.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that New Mexico's average math and reading scores are among the lowest in the United States. Additionally, the state's SAT average for the class of 2023 was 968, significantly below the national average of 1028.
Education Week indicates that New Mexico's per-pupil funding is below the national average. Despite reforms like expanded pre-kindergarten programs and increased teacher salaries, academic results remain comparable to other low-ranked states such as Mississippi and Louisiana.
According to Ballotpedia, Lord is a Republican representing District 22 in the New Mexico House since 2021. Her focus areas include parental rights, school safety, and curriculum transparency. She supports local control and school choice.
