• Category 2

    Selected in 2014

  • Grades: k - 6
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 19,069
    Student Enrollment: 507
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.3%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 99.6%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 51%
    Founded: 1988
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jorge Araujo
  • CONTACT:
    1105 Valle Vista
    Sunland Park, NM 88063
    575-589-1180
    jaraujo@gisd.k12.nm.us
Desert View Elementary
Sunland Park, NM
We attribute our success this school year in closing the gap between the lowest performing students and our highest performing students to the new technology programs. These are First in Math and Imagine Learning. Teachers have volunteered to stay after school to tutor students in addition to the use of these programs during the regular school day.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
We currently have a Parent Teacher Group that volunteers in supporting school activities. Another program that has brought parents to school is the school library being open for parents to come and check out books after school considering that the community does not have a city library.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
The school has become an active partner with the City of Sunland Park Police Department. This partnership has brought the community of Desert View together in a bike-a-thon, a fall, winter and spring fests. These events include the promotion of attendance in school for students, parental involvement. In addition the activity has offered literacy and math centers.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Data analysis is crucial in school change. Decisions in school cannot be made based on reaction but on research, analysis and planning. Every school year brings different challenges. Teachers and staff continue to treat children with respect and make every effort to get to know them and where they are coming from. Education should focus on meaningful learning; on teaching students how to make a living but also on how to live.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
We want and need to get new computers for the teachers and classrooms. And we want to work on our lunch procedure to maximize educational time.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Our hard working teachers is the single most important factor in the success of our school. They are available, hardly absent only when necessary. Our staff is very dedicated to our school.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
We attribute our success this school year in closing the gap between the lowest performing students and our highest performing students to the new technology programs. These are First in Math and Imagine Learning. Teachers have volunteered to stay after school to tutor students in addition to the use of these programs during the regular school day.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Title I money has been used for parental involvement in our school.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
The critical activities that have been increased and we hope to continue increasing is the use of technology throughout school curriculum.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Our school culture has improve in the sense that learning can be fun. Our school has worked hard in promoting environmental print. The school has bought bulletin boards to go outside the classrooms so that the school grows rich in print.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2014

  • Grades: k - 6
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 19,069
    Student Enrollment: 507
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.3%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 99.6%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:20
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 51%
    Founded: 1988
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jorge Araujo
  • CONTACT:
    1105 Valle Vista
    Sunland Park, NM 88063
    575-589-1180
    jaraujo@gisd.k12.nm.us