2026 data 23 schools NM

Best Schools in RIO RANCHO, NM

23 public K-12 schools in RIO RANCHO from NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, grade span, demographics, and Civil Rights Data Collection statistics for every active campus.

23 public schools ranked by quality score. NCES CCD 2022-23 data.

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions families make. This page ranks every public school in RIO RANCHO, NM using a composite quality score based on student-teacher ratios, counselor access, gifted program availability, and attendance rates. All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data for the 2022-23 school year.

23
Schools
17,327
Students
Avg Quality
15.2:1
Avg Class Size

How the RIO RANCHO Public-School Landscape Breaks Down

RIO RANCHO, NM enrolls 17,327 students across 23 public schools reporting to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, 2 are charter schools, giving families genuine alternatives to the traditional neighbourhood assignment model. The average student-teacher ratio across the city is 15.2:1, Schools must report at least five campuses in a city to appear in this listing, which is why very small towns may redirect to the broader county or state view.

The highest-ranked campus in RIO RANCHO is Cleveland High School, scoring 37/100 (F) with 2,596 enrolled students at the high level. Families should treat any single ranking as a starting point rather than a verdict — a school serving fewer at-risk students or offering more AP classes will score higher on resource-based composites even if individual teachers or programs elsewhere are stronger. The quality score framework is transparent and rebuilt from raw NCES and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) inputs, so each component can be inspected on the individual school pages linked in the table below.

RIO RANCHO schools sit within multiple district boundaries, which matters for property taxes, redistricting votes, and bond measures. Each district files its own NCES F-33 financial return, meaning per-pupil spending can vary noticeably even between neighbouring campuses in the same city. Use the table to sort by enrollment, level, or district, then click any school name for campus-level demographics, Title I status, counselor and nurse staffing, AP courses, chronic-absenteeism rates, and district per-pupil spending. The sidebar links also connect RIO RANCHO housing costs, wage data, and crime statistics — context many parents weigh alongside test-adjacent school signals when relocating.

RIO RANCHO school enrollment varies 30× across entities

RIO RANCHO school enrollment ranges from 86 students (lowest) to 2,596 students (highest), a spread of 2,510 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme heterogeneity inside a single city — small specialty programs sit alongside large comprehensive campuses, often serving very different family demographics inside walking distance. Per-school staffing, programme depth, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same city based on enrollment shape — a 200-student magnet runs a different operational model than a 2,000-student comprehensive high school.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

RIO RANCHO student-teacher ratio is 15.2:1 — near the typical range (US average ~16) — aligned with the U.S. average of approximately 16:1

student-teacher ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE classroom teachers against total enrollment — push-in specialists, English-language aides, special-education co-teachers, and counselors are not included in most reporting Variation between sub-units within RIO RANCHO is typically wider than the RIO RANCHO-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe NCES Common Core of Data — Public School Universe

# School Score
1. Cleveland High School 37 F
2. Rio Rancho High 37 F
3. Rio Rancho Middle School 39 F
4. Mountain View Middle 36 F
5. Lincoln Middle 40 D
6. Ernest Stapleton Elementary 51 C-
7. Vista Grande Elementary 46 D
8. Eagle Ridge Middle 46 D
9. Sandia Vista Elementary 50 C-
10. Enchanted Hills Elementary 44 D
11. Cielo Azul Elementary 51 C-
12. Maggie Cordova Elementary School 52 C-
13. Shining Stars Preschool 16 F
14. Joe Harris Elementary 48 D
15. Martin King Jr Elementary 53 C-
16. The Ask Academy 46 D
17. Colinas Del Norte Elementary 51 C-
18. Puesta Del Sol Elementary 40 D
19. Rio Rancho Elementary 56 C
20. Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education 48 D
21. Independence High School 47 D
22. Rio Rancho Cyber Academy 40 D
23. Sparrk Online Academy 38 F

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in RIO RANCHO, NM?

The top-rated school in RIO RANCHO is Cleveland High School with a quality score of 37/100. There are 23 public schools in RIO RANCHO with 17,327 total students.

How many schools are in RIO RANCHO, NM?

RIO RANCHO has 23 public schools with a total enrollment of 17,327 students. 2 are charter schools. Average student-teacher ratio: 15.2:1.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22. Quality scores based on student-teacher ratio, counselor access, gifted programs, and attendance. Schools must have 5+ in the city to be listed.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.