Profile

Questa, New Mexico is the northern gateway to the Land of Enchantment. Located about 25 miles north of Taos on State Road 522, the tranquil village of Questa is home to approximately 2,000 residents. Surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, Questa lies at an elevation just over 7,600 feet on the western slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway.

Historically, Questa was discovered by Spanish settlers in 1829 and was officially founded in 1842. The original settlement was named San Antonio del Rio Colorado after its patron saint St. Anthony. The name was changed to Questa by a post master who misspelled cuesta the Spanish word for slope.

There are abundant recreational opportunities available year round for outdoor enthusiast. Popular summer activities include fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, sightseeing, picnicking and horseback riding. In the winter Ski Rio, and Red River Ski areas become popular skiing, snow boarding, cross-country skiing, tubing, sledding and snowmobiling.

Economically, the Village of Questa is supported by a variety of local merchants including one supermarket, three gasoline stations, six cafes/restaurants, two branch banks, and various other small privately owned businesses. The community is also supported by Taos County, the New Mexico State Department of Transportation, the Red River Fish Hatchery, the Questa Ranger District and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department. At its peak, the Molycorp Mines was the largest single employer for the community. Since its opening in 1920, the mines have been one of the largest employers in the community. However, since 1986 with the first shut down of the mines, employment has declined substantially.

Educationally, the Questa Independent Schools has been providing public education to the children of the Questa since 1962. Like most rural communities, The Questa Schools is the community’s single largest employer, employing 82 certified and non-certified staff. Presently the school district provides public education for 468 children in grades Pre K-12, of which 238 are male and 230 are female. The school district provides instruction to its small student body on separate school sites, two located in the village of Questa and the third 20 miles north in Rio Costilla. In Costilla, children attend Rio Costilla Elementary (enrollment 53) which includes grades K-6. In Questa, children attend Alta Vista Elementary/Intermediate (enrollment 183) in grades Pre K-6 and Questa Junior High/High School (enrollment 228) for grades 7-12. The school district also includes two Charter Schools, Red River (enrollment 91) and Roots and Wings (enrollment 25). Demographically, 91% of students are Hispanic, 8% are Caucasian and 1% made up of Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian. 388 students participate in a three hour Transitional Bilingual Program, while 113 participate in a targeted Title I program and 424 participate in a district wide Title III program. The Special Education services 54 students in Levels A through D. In addition, 454 students receive Free and Reduced Lunch.

The newest school building in the school district, just completed last year is Rio Costilla Elementary; a two million dollar elementary school was recently completed in October in the small community of Costilla. The new Rio Costilla Elementary school houses grades Pre K through 6. Prior to its completion, Questa High School Campus was completed in 1991 which includes general classrooms, vocational education (home economics, industrial tech.{woods, metals and welding}, & business) and technology classrooms, science classrooms and labs, a full media center with computer lab, full kitchen and cafeteria as well as athletic and physical education classrooms and gymnasium located in the Mini Pit Gym with an inside running track, a Fine Arts and Music Wing, and athletic fields. A new Weight Room was recently completed and includes a regular classroom, a weight lifting area with state of the art equipment, and a hot tub. The Alta Vista Campus which houses grades K through 6, with a Pre-School Progr am for three and four year olds is presently receiving a remodel and classroom additions. The new additions will provide classrooms for general instruction, and the remodel will provide a new multi-purpose room for Drama and Music. With the new addition, existing classrooms will be converted to ancillary and special needs service areas. The Red River Charter School is housed in the old public school building, which was closed in 2000. And the Roots and Wings Charter is housed on private land with a building provided through a non-profit organization.

The enrollment in the school district is approximately 576 students, Pre K through 12, 453 of which attend the three public schools. The average class size for grades Pre K through 6 th is 15, and in grades 7-12 it is 18. The school district has 42 full time teachers, 33 of which are classified as “Highly Qualified” as defined by No Child Left Behind. All schools with the exception of the senior high school met AYP this last school year, including the two charter schools. Each school met or exceeded the required attendance rate (92%). In addition, the school district has seen steady gains in reading scores across all grade levels, throughout the school district. At the direction of the board of education two years ago, the school district implemented initiatives in math and science. By in large, the school district has not seen many changes throughout the last five years, and growth, instruction, personnel and programs have been relatively stable.

-written by Mr.Richard Romero