Most Native American students in New Mexico attend public schools, but some are enrolled in schools run by federal or tribal systems. (12)

• Public school districts and charter schools: About 35,300 students.
• Bureau of Indian Education schools: About 6,000 students attending 44 federally funded or tribally controlled schools.

Some school districts serve especially high numbers of Native American students. Here is the most recent data for the 2025-26 school year: (12)

• Albuquerque Public Schools: 3,492 Native American* students (about 5 percent of the district).
   
• Bernalillo Public Schools: 1,402 Native American* students (more than half of all students).
   
• Zuni Public Schools: Nearly all students are Native American, and most schools qualify for Title I support, which means they get extra money and resources to help students succeed academically. 

Educators in these districts often work closely with tribal communities and cultural leaders.

*Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native

The New Mexico Public Education Department identifies some districts as “Historically Defined Indian Impacted”. These districts receive additional support through the Indian Education Fund, which includes $90 million in funding through 2028 to better serve Native American students.

A district earns this designation if it:

• Serves at least 175 Native American students, or
   
• Has a student population that is 45 percent or more Native American

Yazzie/ Martinez v. State of New Mexico is a landmark court case that changed how the state of New Mexico supports students.

• In 2018, a judge ruled that New Mexico was not providing enough support to prepare Native American students and other at-risk groups—including English language learners, students with disabilities and students experiencing poverty—for college and careers.  
   
• In 2025, the court required the state of New Mexico to create a plan to fix these issues and meet their constitutional obligation to fairly educate all students across the state. The New Mexico Public Education Department and other partners created a plan called the Martinez/ Yazzie Action Plan. 
   
• As of 2026, the state is still being monitored to make sure changes are happening.

This case continues to shape education policy across New Mexico.

How this affects Native-serving schools and educators

As a result of the court ruling, the State of New Mexico and local school districts are expected to make changes to improve outcomes for Native American students, including:

• Teaching in ways that respect and value the cultures, languages and strengths of Native communities. 
   
• Following the existing Indian Education Act to prioritize the unique educational needs of tribal communities.
   
• Fairly funding schools to support smaller class sizes, extended learning time and stronger social and behavioral services for Native American students and other groups who need it most.
   
• Recruiting and keeping high-quality teachers from all backgrounds, and creating an alternative path to New Mexico teaching licenses for Native American language and culture teachers.   
   
• Holding school districts more accountable by closely monitoring how education funds are spent. (13)

The plan provides teachers with the support and resources they need to grow and make a real impact, while ensuring students have access to high-quality, culturally responsive learning that helps them reach their full potential.

Did you know? You can apply for the Native American Language & Culture teaching license. Jump to the details!

Language is deeply important, and Native language revitalization efforts are happening across New Mexico. You can help these languages thrive by teaching and sharing them with students.

Native New Mexican languages are taught in many public, tribally-run and Bureau of Indian Education schools, where students often 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! 

Many public schools offer Native language programs, with revitalization efforts helping to expand these opportunities. Schools are looking for teachers who are fluent in Native languages and deeply connected to the local culture.  

Even if you don’t speak a Native language, being curious and willing to learn is important too! 

Each nation, pueblo and tribe in New Mexico is sovereign with its own history, culture, language and traditional ways of life. Teachers who take the time to learn about and respect the local culture are highly valued. This is a skill anyone can grow, whether you’re Native or non-Native.

If you are a member of a nation, pueblo or tribe in New Mexico, that is especially beneficial!  

The majority of tribally-run and Bureau of Indian Education schools have an Indian Preference policy that prioritizes hiring educators from the local community. Native American educators are highly valued because they reflect the communities they serve. 

That said, teachers from all backgrounds are welcome. You can make a positive impact by building relationships, showing respect and supporting students and families. 

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

Benefits

Many tribally-run 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!