New Mexico’s poverty rate has been rising and falling for years. But in 2015, the state was ranked 50th overall and 51st in child poverty, according to Talk Poverty, a project of Center for American Progress.

Twenty-nine percent of New Mexico children live in poverty. This means that in a typical class of 30 Santa Fe High students, 6 out of 30 are going to sleep hungry. Also, more than 25 percent won’t graduate on time.

The advocacy group, New Mexico Voices for Children, claims that, “chronic poverty has not been addressed sufficiently by state government.”

“How can we live knowing that this is the state that has the highest rate of children in poverty?” asked Allen Sanchez, CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives St. Joseph’s Children. This is the organization behind the New Mexico Truth campaign, which also advocates the end of child poverty. “The third highest in hunger? The worst graduation rate? All of this is connected, and if we do nothing then we’re failing, and we’re failing ourselves,” he said.

The Annual Scorecard, part of the Kids Count program run by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, has looked at the interplay of race and ethnicity in poverty issues.

“Almost without exception, non-Hispanic, white children have better outcomes than children of other races and ethnicities,” said Amber Wallin, director of Kids Count. “Addressing these disparities has to be a high priority when three-quarters of the state’s children are racial or ethnic minorities, yet it’s not an issue that appears to gain much traction in Santa Fe.”

Many schools are starting to help. For example, Santa Fe High has a food bank that has been open for several years. It’s partnered with the Food Depot and works to help provide students in need with food and clothing.

“When kids are hungry in school, they can’t think,” said history teacher Mr. Pederson, who, with his wife and colleague Ms. Pederson, took over the food bank after its founder, Ms. O’Shell, transferred to the district last year. “Give them a snack so they can make it through the day. Either they forgot their money or their family doesn’t have the money for lunch.”

Mr. Pederson continued, “If you’ve got to think about where your next meal is coming from, if you’re hungry — you’re not going to think about school. So that’s why we do it. What we’re here for is to help those kids out so that everyone can be successful.”