Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Summary:

Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is a public high school located in Mesilla, New Mexico, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 144 students. The school is part of the Las Cruces School District, which is ranked 63 out of 119 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Rio Grande Preparatory Institute has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of New Mexico high schools over the past decade, with rankings ranging from 129 to 181 out of 177-198 schools. It has maintained a 1-star or 0-star rating from SchoolDigger during this time. The school's performance is particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as female students, male students, Hispanic students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, all of whom rank significantly lower than the state and district averages. Proficiency rates on state assessments are also significantly lower than the state and district averages, with only 14% of students proficient or better in science and 18% proficient in 11th-grade English language arts.

When compared to other high schools in the Las Cruces district, Rio Grande Preparatory Institute significantly underperforms. For example, Centennial High School, located just 5 miles away, ranked 39 out of 190 New Mexico high schools in 2023-2024 and had much higher proficiency rates in science (51%) and English language arts (51%) for 11th-grade students. Despite the school's low performance, its small size and low student-teacher ratio (12:1 in 2022-2023) could present opportunities for targeted interventions and support if the school can effectively address its challenges.

Detail:

Public 9-12

2355 Avenida De Mesilla
Mesilla, NM 88046

(575) 527-6058

District: Las Cruces

SchoolDigger Rank:
162^nd of 190 New Mexico High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,855

Student/teacher ratio: 12.0

Number of students: 144

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

86.1%

White:

10.4%

African American:

2.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

See top rated New Mexico high schools

Compare Rio Grande Preparatory Institute to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Rio Grande Preparatory Institute ranks worse than 85.3% of high schools in New Mexico. It also ranks last among 6 ranked high schools in the Las Cruces School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.09. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (86.1%), White (10.4%), African American (2.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is 12, which is the 2^nd best among 6 high schools in the Las Cruces School District. (See more...)

Compare Rio Grande Preparatory Institute employs 12 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is $8,855, which is the 2^nd highest among 6 high schools in the Las Cruces School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Rio Grande Preparatory Institute:

SchoolDigger ranks Rio Grande Preparatory Institute 162^nd of 190 New Mexico public high schools. (See Rio Grande Preparatory Institute in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Las Cruces:

SchoolDigger ranks Las Cruces 63^rd of 119 New Mexico school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Rio Grande Preparatory Institute.

What do you think?

Your rating for Rio Grande Preparatory Institute?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Compare

Rank History for all students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NM State Percentile
2006	16.17	118^th	134	11.9%
2007	23.66	119^th	150	20.7%
2008	5.43	141^st	146	3.4%
2009	8.08	143^rd	151	5.3%
2010	7.79	144^th	154	6.5%
2011	13.27	136^th	157	13.4%
2012	8.93	153^rd	163	6.1%
2013	8.24	166^th	177	6.2%
2014	17.79	166^th	198	16.2%
2015	19.89	162^nd	193	16.1%
2016	20.55	157^th	185	15.1%
2018	6.66	181^st	182	0.5%
2019	11.04	169^th	181	6.6%
2022	20.35	129^th	177	27.1%
2024	18.09	162^nd	190	14.7%

See the entire list of New Mexico High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NM State Percentile
2018	6.87	162^nd	164	1.2%
2019	12.92	151^st	161	6.2%
2022	19.91	114^th	154	26.0%
2024	19.82	131^st	154	14.9%

See the entire list of Best New Mexico High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NM State Percentile
2018	4.15	145^th	145	0.0%
2019	7.11	141^st	144	2.1%
2022	33.59	98^th	157	37.6%

See the entire list of Best New Mexico High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NM State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	12.59	149^th	151	1.3%

See the entire list of Best New Mexico High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NM State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	9.82	136^th	139	2.2%
2022	25.60	118^th	150	21.3%

See the entire list of Best New Mexico High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NM State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	15.98	137^th	155	11.6%

See the entire list of Best New Mexico High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: New Mexico Public Education Department, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: New Mexico Public Education Department

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, July 9, 2020

I think it should rank higher than 164 of 175. This is a good alternative school with many teachers who really do care and an environment that some children thrive in. Too bad alternative schools get a bad rap in general. RGPI is a good school!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2006	43	5	0	132	4	n/a	n/a	184
2007	32	2	0	102	3	n/a	n/a	139
2008	22	6	0	151	1	n/a	n/a	180
2009	35	2	0	120	0	n/a	n/a	157
2010	34	4	1	128	1	0	0	168
2011	25	5	0	127	2	0	0	159
2012	22	3	0	108	1	0	0	134
2013	28	4	0	127	1	0	0	160
2014	34	2	0	117	2	0	0	155
2015	50	3	1	203	2	0	0	259
2016	53	8	1	248	2	0	2	314
2017	52	8	1	267	1	0	0	329
2018	57	4	2	281	2	0	0	346
2019	33	9	0	264	4	0	0	310
2020	24	7	0	145	3	1	1	181
2021	23	3	0	155	2	0	0	183
2022	18	0	0	125	2	0	1	146
2023	15	3	0	124	1	0	1	144

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	184	24.4	7.5	78.8
2007	139	23.1	6.0	74.1
2008	180	23.1	7.8	65
2009	157	23.4	6.7	66.2
2010	168	20.2	8.2	69
2011	159	17.8	8.8	61
2012	134	15.1	8.8	85.1
2013	160	14.6	10.9	91.3
2014	155	17.6	8.7	66.5
2015	259	18.0	14.3	58.7
2016	314	15.0	20.9	56.7
2017	329	15.3	21.4	100
2018	346	15.4	22.4	100
2019	310	15.6	19.7	99.7
2020	181	15.7	11.4	100
2021	183	11.3	16.1	100
2022	146	12.5	11.6	99.3
2023	144	12.0	12.0	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2006	184	24.4	7.5	78.8
2007	139	23.1	6.0	74.1
2008	180	23.1	7.8	65
2009	157	23.4	6.7	66.2
2010	168	20.2	8.2	69
2011	159	17.8	8.8	61
2012	134	15.1	8.8	85.1
2013	160	14.6	10.9	91.3
2014	155	17.6	8.7	66.5
2015	259	18.0	14.3	58.7
2016	314	15.0	20.9	56.7
2017	329	15.3	21.4	100
2018	346	15.4	22.4	100
2019	310	15.6	19.7	99.7
2020	181	15.7	11.4	100
2021	183	11.3	16.1	100
2022	146	12.5	11.6	99.3
2023	144	12.0	12.0	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$8,855

Data source: New Mexico Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Pandemic (2021-2022)	Change (%)
Ranks 169^th of 181 High schools	Ranks 129^th of 177 High schools	20.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Pandemic (2021-2022)	Change (%)
11th Grade Language Arts (Rio Grande Preparatory Institute)	10	14.3	4.3%
11th Grade Language Arts (Las Cruces)	40	32.7	7.3%
11th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)	40	33.1	6.9%
11th Grade Science (Rio Grande Preparatory Institute)	11	29	18%
11th Grade Science (Las Cruces)	28	46	18%
11th Grade Science (New Mexico)	25	40.2	15.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	310	144	53.5%
African American	9	3	66.7%
American Indian	4	1	75%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	264	124	53%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	33	15	54.5%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	99.7%	100%	0.3%

Schools Near Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SAT School Day English Language Arts (2024)	SAT School Day Mathematics (2024)	NM-ASR Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT School Day English Language Arts 11th Grade	SAT School Day Mathematics 11th Grade	NM-ASR Science All Grades	Total
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute	Public	9-12	2355 Avenida De Mesilla	Mesilla	88046	Do�a Ana County	Las Cruces	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-6058	144	12	12.0	100.0%	15 (10.4%)	3 (2.1%)	124 (86.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	18.1	162^nd of 190 public high schools	14.7%					(n/a)	18.0		14.0	$8,855
Las Cruces High	Public	9-12	1750 El Paseo Rd	Las Cruces	88001	Do�a Ana County	Las Cruces	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9400	1,787	98	18.1	100.0%	289 (16.2%)	48 (2.7%)	1,406 (78.7%)	12 (0.7%)	17 (1.0%)	4 (0.2%)	11 (0.6%)	52.2	67^th of 190 public high schools	64.7%		32.2	102^nd of 170 public high schools	40.0%	35	32.0	11.0	43.0	$8,673
Las Montanas Charter	Public, Charter	9-12	1405 S. Solano Ave	Las Cruces	88001	Do�a Ana County	Las Montanas Charter	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 636-2100	162	13	12.4	100.0%	9 (5.6%)	4 (2.5%)	147 (90.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)			7.0	$15,490
New America School - Las Cruces	Public, Charter	9-12	207 S Main St	Las Cruces	88001	Do�a Ana County	New America School - Las Cruces	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9085	170	10	17.3	100.0%	7 (4.1%)	2 (1.2%)	156 (91.8%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	25.7	139^th of 190 public high schools	26.8%					(n/a)	21.0		30.0	$12,195
Alma D'Arte Charter	Public, Charter	9-12	402 W Court Ave	Las Cruces	88005	Do�a Ana County	Alma D'Arte Charter	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 541-0145	121	13	9.2	100.0%	31 (25.6%)	4 (3.3%)	85 (70.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25	141^st of 190 public high schools	25.8%		31.5	104^th of 170 public high schools	38.8%	37	20.0		33.0	$11,252
Arrowhead Park Early College High School	Public	9-12	3400 South Espina St	Las Cruces	88001	Do�a Ana County	Las Cruces	No	(n/a)	No	No	(575) 527-9540	0	21	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	97.1	5^th of 190 public high schools	97.4%		92.2	14^th of 170 public high schools	91.8%	9	74.0	44.0	73.0	$9,868
Mayfield High	Public	9-12	1955 North Valley Dr	Las Cruces	88007	Do�a Ana County	Las Cruces	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9415	1,421	83	17.1		236 (16.6%)	22 (1.5%)	1,145 (80.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.5%)	2 (0.1%)	9 (0.6%)	39.2	99^th of 190 public high schools	47.9%		34.9	97^th of 170 public high schools	42.9%	2	29.0	5.0	37.0	$8,583
Centennial High School	Public	9-12	1950 S Sonoma Ranch Blvd	Las Cruces	88011	Do�a Ana County	Las Cruces	No	(n/a)	No	No	(575) 527-9330	1,615	92	17.5		325 (20.1%)	33 (2.0%)	1,185 (73.4%)	17 (1.1%)	15 (0.9%)	13 (0.8%)	27 (1.7%)	72.5	39^th of 190 public high schools	79.5%		59.1	55^th of 170 public high schools	67.6%	16	51.0	18.0	51.0	$8,017
Aztec Youth Academy	Public	9-12	10015 Robert Larnson	Las Cruces	88001	Do�a Ana County	Juvenile Justice	No	(n/a)	No	No	(505) 526-5900	18	8	2.2	83.3%	2 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (83.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Organ Mountain High School	Public	9-12	5700 Mesa Grande Dr	Las Cruces	88011	Do�a Ana County	Las Cruces	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(575) 527-9430	1,980	104	19.0		350 (17.7%)	50 (2.5%)	1,517 (76.6%)	12 (0.6%)	12 (0.6%)	11 (0.6%)	28 (1.4%)	47.5	78^th of 190 public high schools	58.9%		36.3	94^th of 170 public high schools	44.7%	16	35.0	7.0	39.0	$8,399

Frequently Asked Questions about Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Is Rio Grande Preparatory Institute a good school?

Rio Grande Preparatory Institute ranks in the bottom 14.7% of New Mexico high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Rio Grande Preparatory Institute?

Students at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute are 86% Hispanic, 10% White, 2% African American.

What district is Rio Grande Preparatory Institute in?

Las Cruces

How many students attend Rio Grande Preparatory Institute?

In the 2022-23 school year, 144 students attended Rio Grande Preparatory Institute.

Rate Rio Grande Preparatory Institute!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

NMNew Mexico High School Rankings

NMNew Mexico District Rankings

Schools in Mesilla, NM

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Rio Grande Preparatory Institute!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Mexico Public Education Department.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.