Enrollment
1,024
New Mexico · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Rio Rancho, NM
Rio Rancho Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Rio Rancho Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 350001000865
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 32
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rio Rancho Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also one of the largest schools in New Mexico.
- #2 of 4
- middle schools in Rio Rancho · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 23.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Rio Rancho Middle School has class sizes near the New Mexico median. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rio Rancho Middle School ranks #2 of 4 middle schools in Rio Rancho, NM.
School address
District: Rio Rancho Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350001000865 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
70.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.6:1
vs 14:1 New Mexico avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
23.1%
vs 80.8% New Mexico avg
-71% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rio Rancho Middle School compares with New Mexico and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rio Rancho Middle School
Rio Rancho Middle School is a large middle school in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, enrolling 1,024 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.6:1 puts it in the larger third of New Mexico schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 23.1% free-meal eligibility runs 71% below the New Mexico average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in New Mexico, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,024 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 867 scored New Mexico schools.
Against 20 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #12.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (62%) and White (23%) (diversity index 56/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 341 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Rio Rancho Public Schools spends $11,377 per pupil, 32% below the New Mexico average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 482 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,024 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Rio Rancho Public Schools also operates Cleveland High School (2,596 students) and Rio Rancho High (2,568 students) alongside Rio Rancho Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Rio Rancho Middle School compares
Rio Rancho Middle School on the metrics families compare, against New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.6:1 | ▲ 4% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.1% | ▼ 71% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,024 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,024
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
23.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% below the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 64% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,377
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $16,652
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 341 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
309
in-school suspensions + 173 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 30.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 47.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 61.7%
White 22.5%
Two or More 7.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 5.1%
African American 2.0%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 61.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.0, Rio Rancho Middle School is more mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Rio Rancho Public Schools, which includes Rio Rancho Middle School.
$11,377
Per student
-32%
vs New Mexico
Avg $16,652
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 14.8%
State 74.5%
Federal 10.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Rio Rancho Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rio Rancho High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ernest Stapleton Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rio Rancho Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,596
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,568
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 931
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 805
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 798
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Mexico, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,024 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rio Rancho Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Rio Rancho Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Rio Rancho Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Rio Rancho Middle School
How many students attend Rio Rancho Middle School?
Rio Rancho Middle School has 1,024 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Rio Rancho, NM.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rio Rancho Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Rio Rancho Middle School is 14.6:1, which is 4% higher than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rio Rancho Middle School?
23.1% of students at Rio Rancho Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rio Rancho Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Rio Rancho Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 61.7% of enrollment, in Rio Rancho, NM. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rio Rancho Middle School?
Rio Rancho Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Rio Rancho Middle School rank among middle schools in Rio Rancho?
By Resource Investment Index, Rio Rancho Middle School ranks #2 of 4 middle schools in Rio Rancho, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Rio Rancho on the city page.
Is Rio Rancho Middle School a good school?
Rio Rancho Middle School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also one of the largest schools in New Mexico. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Rio Rancho Public Schools?
Besides Rio Rancho Middle School, Rio Rancho Public Schools also operates Cleveland High School (2,596 students), Rio Rancho High (2,568 students), and Mountain View Middle (931 students). See the Rio Rancho Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.