The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stone Elementary
Stone Elementary is a regular public school in Hobbs, New Mexico, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of Hobbs Municipal Schools. It draws its identity from a community shaped by the oil and gas industry, where energy extraction drives the local economy and gives the city a working, industrial feel.
The school's enrollment is moderate for its grade band, with a student body that is majority Hispanic and about a third White, along with small numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A smaller share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals than one might expect in many New Mexico communities, which aligns with Hobbs's relatively strong wage base tied to the Permian Basin energy sector. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so those populations cannot be characterized here.
On the most recent state assessments, Stone Elementary showed a split picture. English language arts proficiency sits at a level that is reasonably solid, with nearly half of tested students meeting or exceeding standards. Math proficiency is lower, with roughly three out of ten students proficient. Science results are weaker still, with about one in five students reaching proficiency. These science results cover only the tested elementary grade, so the pool is smaller and the figure should be read with that in mind. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining. A parent may want to ask the school how it is addressing the gap between literacy and math, and what supports are in place for science instruction.
Hobbs itself is a mid-sized city and the largest community in Lea County, sitting at the heart of the nation's top oil-producing county. The local economy runs on mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, with retail trade and educational services as secondary sectors. The city promotes itself as free from the congestion found elsewhere in the Permian Basin and advertises lower rental prices than neighboring communities. Zia Park Casino, Hotel, and Racetrack is a large employer, along with the University of the Southwest, a private Christian university, and New Mexico Junior College, a public two-year college. A uranium enrichment facility in nearby Eunice also draws workers from across the region.
The city is car-dependent, spread across roughly twenty-six square miles with U.S. Routes 62 and 180 and State Road 18 as primary corridors. A local transit service called Hobbs Express operates, but the layout is auto-oriented rather than walkable. Civic amenities include parks, a library, a senior center, a teen center, and a golf course. Lea County Regional Airport offers daily nonstop flights to Houston and Denver, and the former World War II army airfield north of town has been converted into the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, home to the Soaring Society of America headquarters and used for soaring competitions.
Housing in the school's zip code is affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks. Home values sit well below the New Mexico median, and rents are similarly modest. The price-to-income ratio is favorable, and estimated monthly mortgage costs run higher than typical rents, which means renting may be the more economical option for many families. The city has experienced population growth tied to the energy boom, with projections of continued oil production increases, though no specific new housing development projects were identified in available sources.
Information on school-level programs, course access, staffing, discipline, attendance, and Title I status was not available. The district brief for Hobbs Municipal Schools returned no parent-relevant changes such as curriculum shifts, bond issues, or facility plans. No neighbor comparison or county-level positioning data was provided. A family considering Stone Elementary would do well to visit the school directly, ask about instructional supports in math and science, and learn how the school describes its approach to serving its diverse student population.
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