Corps members have a tremendous opportunity to increase student achievement and become deeply committed to the unique communities of the Acoma, Laguna, Latino, Navajo and Zuni people.

New Mexico

Schools

The need for excellent teachers is extremely critical in New Mexico, where many students are achieving significantly below grade level in core content areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Although placement needs vary each year, the need for special education teachers continues to be in high demand. New Mexico corps members currently teach in five school districts: Central Consolidated Schools (CCSD), Zuni Public Schools (ZPS), Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools (BIA), Grants-Cibola County Schools (GCCS) and Gallup-McKinley County Schools (GMCS). According to the “Early Prevention of School Failure” survey, students entering Gallup-McKinley County Schools are two and a half to three years behind the state average when they enter first grade. All but 14 schools in the entire state of New Mexico failed to meet state “adequate yearly progress” goals in 2007, including all schools in Gallup-McKinley County.

Students in all areas where corps members teach are predominantly Native American. However, corps members teaching in Gallup generally have very diverse classrooms with both Native American and Hispanic cultures being represented. The schools face a variety of challenges, particularly low student achievement and high dropout rates. New Mexico corps members have a tremendous opportunity to increase student achievement and, at the same time, learn how historical forces have affected the realities of contemporary Acoma, Laguna, Navajo, Zuni, and Latino/Hispanic life.

At a Glance

School Districts:
Zuni Public Schools
Gallup-Mckinley County Schools
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Education Programs
Central Consolidated Schools
Grants-Cibola County Schools

Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population:
(Gallup-McKinley County Schools/Zuni Public Schools/BIA Schools/Central Consolidated/Grants-Cibola Schools)
<1% / <1% / N/A / <1% / 1% African-American
6% / 1% / N/A / 8% / 19% Caucasian
11% / 1% / N/A / 2% / 39% Latino/Hispanic
<1% / <1% / N/A / <1% / <1% Asian-American
82% / 99% / 100% / 89% / 40% Native American
N/A Other

Student Ethnic Breakdown-New Mexico
2.5% African-American
31% Caucasian
54% Latino/Hispanic
1% Asian-American
11 % Native American
N/A Other

Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
90% Zuni Public Schools
68% Gallup-McKinley County
100% BIA Schools
100 % Central Consolidated
68% Grants-Cibola County Schools

Placements
12% special education teachers
49% elementary teachers*
51% secondary school teachers*
94% teach at a school with another corps member or alumnus
*percentage includes special education teachers
Pre-K through 12 grade level placements
  • preschool
  • general subject elementary
  • specific-subject secondary
  • special education