Some go to Texas for in-person education

HOBBS — New Mexico schools have ranked at the bottom for years and parents, lawmakers and others are concerned the state is worse off now with no in-person learning due to the pandemic.

Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart during a recent legislative meeting addressed a significant drop in enrollment this fall, estimated at roughly 4 percent. He said more than 12,000 students did not inform schools about why they left, with no indication of a transfer or pivot to home schooling.

Months of data processing and cross-referencing by department officials have accounted for around 5,000 of the students. The vast majority had switched to private schools, Bureau of Indian Education schools, or moved out of state.

Local school leaders in Hobbs and Lovington questioned the state’s data, saying they can account for the students who did not enroll in their districts this year. They submitted enrollment information to the state earlier this year.

“They have that data, and just didn’t look at it . ... It’s just frustrating that they sent out bad information,” Hobbs Superintendent TJ Parks told the Hobbs

News-Sun.

In Lea County, more than 1,600 students have left the area’s school districts.

Many have gone to Texas because that state is allowing students to attend class in person. Texas schools also rank higher in the quality of education offered, coming in near the middle of the rankings while New Mexico hovers at the bottom.

Attending school in Texas isn’t an easy option, as districts there have a residency requirement.

Seminole Independent School District Assistant Superintendent Sylvia Suarez said there have been about 62 Lea County students who have moved into the Texas district to attend Seminole schools. The district is expecting another 17 students when school resumes Jan. 5.