New Mexico has far more small towns than it does cities. While this is part of our state’s charm, it also means that many New Mexicans attended one of the small high schools scattered across the Land of Enchantment. Whether you adored your close-knit community or couldn’t wait to graduate, these 13 things are likely to have been true for you.

1. Everyone knows everybody else... and their business.
Flickr/Ketzirah Lesser & Art Drauglis
2. You recognize the names of the people who used your textbook before you and are familiar with any rumors about them.
Flickr/Enokson
3. Some of your friendships were formed out of convenience - because your parents were friends with each other or you were the only two girls (or boys) in a particular class.
Flickr/Homini:)
4. A relative or friend of the family worked at your school.
Flickr/US Department of Education
5. You were always compared to your siblings who, of course, attended the same school. Or possibly even to your parents.
Flickr/Josh Evnin
6. Members of a big family could dominate a school.
Flickr/Quinn Dombrowski

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7. You trekked to the nearest big city to buy back-to-school clothes and it was a big deal.
Flickr/OpenThreads
8. You didn’t have to try out for a team… they were just grateful to have enough people to play.
Flickr/Jamie Williams
9. Being involved in sports often meant enduring loooong bus rides to compete at other schools.
Flickr/Tom Blackwell
10. Rivalries with other high schools were serious business. There may have been attempts to tag the opposing team's water tower!
Flickr/William Pacheco
11. If you got into trouble… the cop was just as likely to drive you home and let your parents deal with you than arrest you.
Flickr/Tim Kuzdrowski
12. The arrival of a new kid caused a lot of speculation and excitement. But the new kid sometimes had a hard time breaking into established social groups.
Flickr/NWABR
13. The livestock in the nearest field massively outnumbered each year’s graduating class.
Flickr/Marcin Wichary

What things do you remember about attending a small high school in New Mexico?

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