New Mexico AG Unveils Report Revealing Racial Disparities in School Discipline Practices

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has released a comprehensive report detailing significant racial disparities in disciplinary practices within the Gallup-McKinley County Schools district. The investigation, initiated by Torrez in 2023 following extensive reporting by New Mexico In Depth and ProPublica, highlights how Indigenous and Hispanic students face disproportionately harsher punishments compared to their white peers.

According to the report, Indigenous students lose between eight to ten times more classroom days due to suspensions than white students. Similarly, Hispanic students endure three to four times as many suspension days for similar infractions. The district, which spans an area larger than Delaware and includes significant portions of the Navajo Nation, is home to one of the largest Native American student populations in any public school system.

The investigation stemmed from earlier findings that revealed Native students were expelled at far higher rates than other racial groups across New Mexico. Despite comprising only a quarter of the state's Native student population, Gallup-McKinley accounted for nearly three-quarters of all expulsions involving Native children between 2016 and 2020.

Former Superintendent Mike Hyatt initially dismissed these findings as inaccurate, attributing discrepancies to data entry errors or overly broad definitions of expulsion. However, the state Department of Justice investigators concluded that neither explanation adequately accounted for the stark racial disparities observed in disciplinary actions.

The report recommends several measures aimed at addressing and rectifying these issues. It calls on district officials to redefine infractions clearly and establish proportional penalties while limiting suspensions. Additionally, it suggests adopting restorative justice practices such as talking circles, which involve students discussing their behavior's impact on others and exploring alternative choices.

Wendy Greyeyes, chair of the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, echoed similar sentiments in a March 2026 report that also highlighted discrimination within Gallup-McKinley schools. She noted that neighboring districts have successfully implemented restorative justice alternatives but cautioned that building trust with students and families could be challenging for this district.

Beyond academic repercussions, excessive suspensions can lead to social isolation, poor health outcomes, lower wages, and increased risk of involvement in the criminal justice system, according to national research cited in the report. Investigators emphasized the need for a transparent complaint process and regular audits of discipline data to ensure accountability.

Furthermore, the report criticizes the district's reluctance to acknowledge these issues and its provision of inconsistent disciplinary data to external auditors. This behavior has hindered efforts to address systemic problems effectively.

In light of these findings, Attorney General Torrez is urging not only district-level reforms but also broader state oversight measures. He calls for annual audits by the New Mexico Public Education Department to prevent such extreme disparities from persisting in other school districts statewide.

Anjana Samant, deputy director at the state Department of Justice and one of the report’s authors, stressed that proactive monitoring is crucial to preventing systemic racial inequities in student discipline. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive policy changes to ensure equitable treatment across all students regardless of their background or ethnicity.