Original Research by School Decision on Naco Elementary School
Naco Elementary School serves students in preschool through eighth grade in the small, unincorporated border community of Naco, Arizona. It is the only school in the Naco Elementary District, and because it ends at eighth grade there is no graduation rate to report. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
The student body is almost entirely Hispanic, with a very small number of white students enrolled. The community context informs this composition: Naco is a predominantly Hispanic, high-poverty census-designated place on the U.S.–Mexico border, directly across from its sister city Naco, Sonora. The economy is driven by mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, agriculture, and the port of entry, which operates daily. Homeownership is high, though poverty rates are also high. The town has seen some population fluctuation but appears to be growing slowly at this point. Public transit connects Naco to Bisbee, the nearest larger town.
State testing data for the 2024-25 school year is suppressed for all subjects and grade levels at the school, which means the data does not publicly report the share of students who scored proficient. A multi-year trend shows that, in the single year for which a reported figure exists, roughly a small share of students were proficient in English language arts and a similar small share were proficient in math. A parent considering this school should be aware that these figures are the only available snapshot of academic attainment, and the district may be able to provide additional context about student learning that is not reflected in this data. Because the proficiency rates across tested subjects are low, a parent may want to follow up directly with the school or district about academic supports, intervention programs, and how the school tracks student progress beyond state assessments.
Information about the school’s course offerings, programs, staffing, discipline, chronic absenteeism, and special education or English learner populations was not available in the data provided. The school’s Title I status and magnet status were also not reported. Without these details, a full picture of student support, enrichment, and school climate is incomplete.
The school is located in a very small, low-density border community with no described downtown district. The Naco port of entry and the former Fort Naco military post serve as key civic landmarks. The Turquoise Valley Golf Course, once the oldest continuously operated course in Arizona, permanently closed recently. No major new housing developments were identified in the area, and the residential market reflects the town’s rural, slow-growing character. The nearest larger town with more amenities is Bisbee, accessible by public bus.
For a family weighing this school, the essential facts are these. Naco Elementary is a pre-K through eighth grade school in a small, economically stressed border community. The student population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting the town itself. State test results are largely suppressed, and the available data suggests low overall proficiency. The school does not serve high school grades, so families will need to plan for where children will attend ninth grade. The district did not have recent, parent-relevant changes to share. Any family considering this school should seek direct information from the school about its academic programs, support for students who are below grade level, and the transition options for secondary school, as the public data leaves many of those questions unanswered.
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