Pueblo Schools in New Mexico

There are 890 public schools serving 315,023 students in New Mexico as of 2022. (6) 

These include New Mexico public, charter and magnet schools. 

Characteristics of Public Schools:

• Controlled by the state. 
• Governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. 
• Funded by federal and state governments.
• Teachers are state employees.

There are about 43 Pueblo schools serving 6,704 students in New Mexico as of 2022. (5) Although many Pueblo schools are located on tribal (Pueblo) land, some are not. All Pueblo schools serve a high population of Native American students. 

In New Mexico, there are two different kinds of Pueblo schools, those controlled by the national Bureau of Indian Education and those controlled by the local tribes or Pueblos, called tribally-controlled schools.  

Bureau of Indian Education schools

There are 22 schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education in New Mexico. 

Characteristics of Bureau of Indian Education schools: 

• Controlled and operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, a part of the US Department of the Interior. 
• Funded federally through the Bureau of Indian Education.
• Operated by the federal government.
• Teachers are federal employees. (7)

Tribally-controlled schools

There are 21 tribally-controlled schools in New Mexico. Tribally-controlled schools include Pueblo schools and Navajo and Apache schools in New Mexico. 

Characteristics of Tribally-controlled schools:

• Controlled and operated by sovereign tribes or Pueblos or tribal organizations. Some Pueblos/tribes have a Tribal Education Department, but not all. 
• Funded tribally and federally. 
• Teachers are employees of the specific Pueblo or tribe. (8)

Language is extremely significant and is taught in many Pueblo schools. Many or most students speak one of eight native languages at home. You’ll have many bi- and trilingual students who speak English, their local native language, and Spanish too! Pueblo schools are always looking for teachers who speak the native language and understand the culture.

Want to become a Native American Language and Culture teacher? Learn more.

Each Pueblo and tribe in New Mexico is a sovereign nation with its own history, culture and traditional ways of life. Teachers who understand the local culture are ideal. Willingness to learn also goes a long way.

Native American educators are highly sought after for many reasons. The majority of Pueblo schools have an Indian Preference policy in hiring, so teachers reflect the communities they serve. Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education also use the Indian Preference policy in hiring. Many Pueblos and tribes also prefer to hire teachers who are members of the school’s local Pueblo or tribe.  

Salary

Teachers in schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education are federal employees and earn salaries similar to other teachers in New Mexico. Salaries are based on experience and education level, so if you have more experience or a master’s degree, you’ll earn more. Pay is the same across all schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education in New Mexico for teachers with the same qualifications. Visit our New Mexico Teacher Salary page for more details.

Benefits

As a federal employee, you’ll also be eligible for federal benefits like health insurance, retirement and life insurance. Learn more.

Salary

Teacher salaries in tribally-controlled schools vary by each individual Pueblo, as they are determined by tribal leadership organizations. While some Pueblos or tribes have a Tribal Education Department, not all do. However, each Pueblo is governed by some form of tribal leadership. Most Pueblos use a pay scale similar to public schools, where salaries increase with experience and education.

Benefits

Many Pueblo schools have an employee handbook posted online. These handbooks detail available benefits such as health insurance, dental, vision and retirement plans, plus any extra incentives they may offer such as a hiring bonus, free or low-cost housing options, extra pay when you get your National Board Certification, yearly stipends for hard-to-staff subjects and more!    

No. Native American students make up the majority of students in Pueblo schools. However, many Native American students attend public schools overseen by the state of New Mexico. Many of these schools are located on or near tribal land, including 23 school districts and 10 charter schools that qualify for special programs and funding to support their large Native American student populations. (5)

Essentially, yes. It’s a naming convention. New Mexico is home to 23 tribes, including 19 Pueblos, three Apache tribes, and the Navajo Nation. The terms “tribal school” or “tribally-controlled school” are an overarching term to refer to the Apache tribes, the Navajo Nation and Pueblos collectively as “tribes”. So you can think of Pueblo schools as a type of tribal school. 

Tribally-controlled schools include Pueblo schools, Navajo schools, and Apache schools in New Mexico.

Technically, yes. Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education and tribally-controlled Pueblo schools are all part of the Bureau of Indian Education system in New Mexico. However, the Bureau of Indian Education only operates about half of the Pueblo schools. The other half are controlled and operated by the individual Pueblos/tribes with grants or contracts from the Bureau of Indian Education. (7)

A number of public schools overseen by the state of New Mexico are situated on or near tribal land, including 23 school districts and 10 charter schools that qualify for special programs and funding to serve their large Native American student populations. (5)