Gov. Martinez recognizes two Gadsden ISD schools that improved from “F” rating to “A”

Two schools in southern New Mexico are receiving national recognition for a big improvement in standardized test scores.

Desert View Elementary School in Sunland Park is leading the entire state of New Mexico in most improved scores in the PARCC test for math and reading. It went from an “F” rating in 2015 to an “A” rating this year.

Anthony Elementary School is number two in the state, jumping from a “C” rating to an “A.”

Governor Susana Martinez and Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera visited both schools Monday to congratulate the students and encourage them to keep up the hard work.

“I believe that every single kid can learn, every kid can learn,” Martinez said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, it doesn’t matter where you live, it doesn’t matter if you’re poor or you’re rich or you just want to be a kid who’s getting better and better and better all the time.”

The Gadsden District says the schools made the improvements by analyzing last year’s data and focusing on each individual child’s needs. They also added different computer programs so students can prepare and practice.