Best Public Schools in Rio Rancho, NM

The city of Rio Rancho, New Mexico is home to a diverse and generally high-performing school district, with 23 schools serving students from elementary through high school. The district includes 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools, with a mix of traditional public schools and public charter schools.

Several standout schools emerge from the data, including The Ask Academy, a public charter high school that ranks 9th out of 170 New Mexico high schools and has a 5-star rating. The Rio Rancho Cyber Academy, a public virtual high school, also ranks 8th out of 170 New Mexico high schools and has a 5-star rating. Among the middle schools, Mountain View Middle stands out, ranking 26th out of 239 New Mexico middle schools with a 4-star rating. At the elementary level, Sandia Vista Elementary ranks 69th out of 435 New Mexico elementary schools and has a 4-star rating.

The Rio Rancho schools serve a diverse student population, with Hispanic students making up the largest racial group across the district. Many of the schools perform well academically, with several ranked in the top quartile of their respective school types in the state. However, the district also exhibits significant socioeconomic differences, as evidenced by the wide range in free/reduced lunch rates across the schools. Additionally, the middle schools in the district generally have higher student-teacher ratios and lower statewide rankings compared to the elementary and high schools, suggesting an area for potential improvement.