LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- A Santa Fe think tank is preparing to ask the 2009 New Mexico Legislature to limit the number of high school students to 900 per building to reduce the number of students dropping out.

The group Think New Mexico cites a report that ranks New Mexico second to the bottom nationally for graduation rates.

It said smaller schools would improve the numbers.

“At our three comprehensive high schools, we have 2,400 in two of them and almost 2,100 in one of them. Then we have a small alternative high school with 200 students,” said Las Cruces Public Schools spokeswoman Jo Galvan.

LCPS’s new high school will eventually house an additional 2,000 students, but taxpayers would foot the bills for more.

“In New Mexico our brick and mortar is through the local property tax so it would be a substantial increase to taxes,” said Galvan.

The Think New Mexico report cites an "Education Week" study which states 54.1 percent of New Mexico students complete high school.

That is up against the national average of 70.6 percent.

“Should we be looking at a total number for high school or should we be looking at numbers in the classroom,” said Evangelina Miranda of South Las Cruces.

“Teachers would give more attention to them and they would feel they are getting the attention and they would probably stay in more,” said Education student Gladys Ceja.

The economy might also hurt the rate.

“There's a lot to be said about what's available here-- what jobs to look forward to in the state of New Mexico. That's probably why a lot of people drop out because the income is low and people need to help their families to get by,” said Miranda.

And with Las Cruces as one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation, smaller schools may just be an idea.

“That means we would be building many more high schools that would be quite a challenge not sure how that would work in a community like ours,” said Galvan.

LCPS is working with Dona Ana Community College and NMSU to build an early college high school which would house up to 300 students.