The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Berino Elementary
Berino Elementary sits on Shrode Road in Anthony, New Mexico, a small border community pressed against the Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley. The school serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as part of the Gadsden Independent School District, one of the larger districts sprawling across this southern stretch of Doña Ana County. Anthony itself is a young city by incorporation standards, having become a municipality only in the past two decades. It runs along Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and El Paso, and most residents commute out for work, giving the place a bedroom-community feel rather than a self-contained town with its own employment base.
The student body at Berino is almost entirely Hispanic, reflecting the broader demographics of Anthony, where the vast majority of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. Every student at the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to a community where economic hardship is pervasive rather than incidental. Anthony's median household income sits well below state and national levels, and a substantial share of residents live below the poverty line. The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary serving seven grade levels, with fairly even distribution across the grades, though pre-kindergarten enrollment shows as zero in the data, meaning families seeking early childhood programming through this school may need to look elsewhere or confirm availability directly.
On state assessments, Berino's results are low. English language arts proficiency reached roughly three in ten tested students, which is below what most would hope to see but represents the stronger of the two core subjects. Math proficiency was markedly lower, with only a small fraction of tested students scoring proficient or above. Science results were weaker still, with the state reporting a range that tops out at a low ceiling and only a single tested student reaching proficiency. These are sobering figures. A parent weighing this school may want to look into how the staff is responding, what intervention supports are in place, and whether the district has specific improvement plans for math and science instruction. The data only covers the most recent testing year, so there is no trend to show whether results are improving, holding steady, or declining over time.
Some data gaps reflect what the school does not serve rather than what was left unreported. Because Berino tops out at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school does not offer the high-school-level programs a parent might look for in an older child's school. Information on English learner services and special education enrollment was not available in the provided data, which limits the picture for families whose children receive those services. The Gadsden district brief turned up little on recent curriculum changes, budget shifts, or facility plans, so there is no additional district-level context to frame what may be coming.
Housing in the 88021 zip code is relatively affordable compared with both state and national benchmarks, with typical home values sitting below the state median and well below the national figure. Rental data was not available. For a family considering buying near the school, the price-to-income ratio is more favorable than many markets, though incomes in Anthony are low enough that affordability remains a real constraint. The broader community context matters here: Anthony has seen modest population decline since incorporation, with only a slight recent rebound, and publicly reported accounts of city financial disputes suggest the municipal government is still finding its footing. No major new housing developments or commercial projects were identified.
For a parent, the question with Berino Elementary is straightforward but difficult. The school serves a community with deep economic needs, and the proficiency results reflect that burden. The peer environment is cohesive and culturally homogeneous, which some families value. The setting is rural-border, auto-dependent, and tied to the El Paso-Las Cruces corridor. What the academic data does not show is whether the classroom experience, teacher relationships, and community warmth offset the tested outcomes. A visit and direct conversation with school staff would be the next step for any family seriously considering enrollment.
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