The Gallup-McKinley County Schools district in New Mexico is under intense scrutiny following a state investigation that uncovered substantial racial disparities in disciplinary actions. The report, released by the New Mexico Department of Justice last week, reveals that Native American and Hispanic students are suspended more frequently and for longer periods than their white counterparts for similar infractions.
The district, which spans an area twice the size of Delaware and includes part of the Navajo Nation has the largest Native American student population of any public school district in the United States. The investigation, ordered by Attorney General Raúl Torrez in 2026, was prompted by earlier reporting that highlighted the district’s high rates of harsh punishment for Native and Hispanic children.
Disproportionate Discipline Rates
The investigation found that Native American students lose eight to 10 times more classroom days to suspensions than white students, while Hispanic students lose three to four times as many. These disparities were evident even in kindergarten and elementary grades often for ambiguous infractions such as disorderly conduct.
The report calls on Gallup-McKinley officials to acknowledge the facts and work with the community to address these issues. Among the recommendations are clearer definitions of infractions and penalty ranges, proportional punishments, and the adoption of restorative justice alternatives like talking circles. These circles allow students to discuss the impact of their misbehavior, the reasons behind their actions, and alternative choices they could have made.
The Navajo Nation’s Perspective
The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission also released a report in March 2026, calling for similar reforms. Wendy Greyeyes, the commission chair, noted that neighboring districts already use such alternatives but expressed concerns about building trust with students and their families.
Until the district addresses its discipline policies, investigators warn that children in and around Gallup, along with their families and communities, will remain negatively affected by educational, social, and emotional challenges. Out-of-school suspensions not only impact academic performance but also deny students access to free meals and participation in extracurricular activities.
National research links suspension and expulsion to lower academic achievement, a higher risk of contact with the criminal justice system, isolation, poor health, and lower wages. The report also calls for the creation of a clear and accessible complaint process for students and families, as well as regular audits of discipline data.
In 2026, after initial reporting by New Mexico In Depth and ProPublica, the district provided a contract auditor with discipline data that was inexplicably different from what it reported to state and U.S. departments of Education, with thousands of disciplinary records missing. The state Department of Justice investigators criticized the district’s leadership for denying the existence of these problems and pushing a misleading counter-analysis.
The report also urges state lawmakers and the New Mexico Public Education Department to strengthen oversight of student discipline statewide. Audits at the state level should be conducted at least once a year and made public. Additionally, the state Department of Education should require that students who are suspended or expelled receive instruction and other educational services while they are out of school.
The district is currently reviewing the report’s recommendations. Superintendent Jvanna Hanks II stated, I am leading a period of transition that prioritizes community voices and renews our focus on every student. The School District will be using this report and current student data as part of our review. Our focus is that students should be in school, supported in school, and treated fairly in school.
