At a glance
Reported students
46
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
31
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
1.5:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
09–12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
New Mexico high enrollment
17th percentile
Compared with 218 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
450
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute: 46 reported students.
State peer staffing position
2nd percentile
1.5:1 reported; state peer median 12.7:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 147
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14.38
- Student–teacher ratio
- 10.2:1
What the reported data says about Rio Grande Preparatory Institute
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is a public high school serving grades 09–12 in Mesilla. It is one of 39 current school records connected to Las Cruces Public Schools. NCES reports 46 students for 2024–25.
Among 218 high schools in New Mexico with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 189 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 17th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 1.5:1, below the New Mexico median of 12.7:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Hispanic or Latino (76.1%) and White (21.7%). English learners represent 12.9% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 13.6%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
The 2021–22 civil-rights collection reports gifted and talented programming. Program availability changes, so families should confirm the current catalog and participation rules directly with the school.
Questions worth asking Rio Grande Preparatory Institute
- 1How do the reported 1.5:1 student–teacher ratio and 31 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Have the reported academic programs changed since the 2021–22 CRDC collection?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 0.9 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 12.9%
- Students with disabilities
- 13.6%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 100%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 0.9
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0.25
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0.5
- Social workers (FTE)
- 1
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White21.7%
- Hispanic76.1%
- Black2.2%
- Asian0%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial0%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
AP student enrollment
No students enrolled reported
Gifted and talented
Offered
Computer science
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Las Cruces Public Schools
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Arrowhead Park Early College High School
High · Grades 09–12
549 reported students
Mayfield High
High · Grades 09–12
1,327 reported students
Las Cruces High
High · Grades 09–12
1,703 reported students
Centennial High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,713 reported students
Organ Mountain High School
High · Grades 09–12
2,128 reported students
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
Middle · Grades 06–08
94 reported students
Public schools near Rio Grande Preparatory Institute
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces High High · Las Cruces Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,703 | 1.9 mi |
| New America School - Las Cruces High · Charter · New America School - Las Cruces | 09–12 | 225 | 2.5 mi |
| Sendero School of Academics and Career Preparation High · Charter · Sendero School of Academics and Career Preparation | 09–12 | 201 | 2.5 mi |
| Alma D'Arte Charter High · Charter · Alma D'Arte Charter | 09–12 | 63 | 2.6 mi |
| Arrowhead Park Early College High School High · Las Cruces Public Schools | 09–12 | 549 | 3.2 mi |
| Mayfield High High · Las Cruces Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,327 | 3.5 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Rio Grande Preparatory Institute
What grades does Rio Grande Preparatory Institute serve?
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute reports grades 09–12 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a high school (alternative school) in Las Cruces Public Schools.
How many students attend Rio Grande Preparatory Institute?
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute reported 46 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 17th percentile among 218 New Mexico high schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 147 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute?
The calculated ratio is 1.5:1, based on 46 students and 31 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The New Mexico median for the same school level is 12.7:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Rio Grande Preparatory Institute a public, charter, or magnet school?
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Las Cruces Public Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Rio Grande Preparatory Institute students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
100% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Rio Grande Preparatory Institute in?
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is part of Las Cruces Public Schools, based in Las Cruces, NM, which operates 39 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Rio Grande Preparatory Institute?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Las Cruces High (1.9 mi), New America School - Las Cruces (2.5 mi), Sendero School of Academics and Career Preparation (2.5 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.