Rio Grande Elementary

Summary:

Rio Grande Elementary is a public elementary school in Belen, New Mexico, serving grades PK-6 with 357 students. The school is part of the Belen school district, which is ranked 61 out of 119 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Rio Grande Elementary consistently ranks among the top 25% of elementary schools in New Mexico, with a current ranking of 112 out of 433 schools. The school's performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics is significantly higher than the district and state averages, with 43% of students proficient or better in ELA and 37% in Mathematics, compared to 38% and 25% in the district and state, respectively. The school's performance is particularly strong in certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students (ranked 65 out of 390 schools) and English Language Learners (ranked 22 out of 203 schools). Additionally, Rio Grande Elementary has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 14 students per teacher, compared to the district average of 13.5.

Within the Belen school district, there are several other high-performing elementary schools located near Rio Grande Elementary, such as Dennis Chavez Elementary and Gil Sanchez Elementary, suggesting a concentration of educational excellence in the region. However, the fact that 100% of Rio Grande Elementary's students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch indicates a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population, which may present unique challenges and require specialized resources and support to ensure continued academic success.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 15 Eastside School Rd
       Belen, NM  87002


(505) 966-2200

District: Belen

SchoolDigger Rank:
112th of 433 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,150 Help


Students who attend Rio Grande Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Belen Middle
High:    Belen High

Student/teacher ratio:  13.2 Help
Number of students:  359

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
83.3%
White:
13.6%
American Indian:
1.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Rio Grande Elementary ranks better than 74.1% of elementary schools in New Mexico. It also ranks 4th among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Belen School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.08. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (83.3%), White (13.6%), American Indian (1.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Belen School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Rio Grande Elementary is 13.2, which is the 2nd best among 6 elementary schools in the Belen School District. (See more...)
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Compare Rio Grande Elementary employs 27 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Rio Grande Elementary is $10,150, which is the highest among 6 elementary schools in the Belen School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Rio Grande Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Rio Grande Elementary 112th of 433 New Mexico public elementary schools. (See Rio Grande Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


Belen:

SchoolDigger ranks Belen 61st of 119 New Mexico school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Rio Grande Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 31.81 288th 389 26.0%
2006 48.80 195th 390 50.0%
2007 33.53 271st 398 31.9%
2008 31.31 301st 405 25.7%
2009 36.94 275th 411 33.1%
2010 32.91 303rd 419 27.7%
2011 36.76 263rd 402 34.6%
2012 30.25 295th 398 25.9%
2013 27.87 320th 412 22.3%
2014 30.67 328th 442 25.8%
2015 40.94 222nd 421 47.3%
2016 41.50 220th 410 46.3%
2017 42.40 197th 374 47.3%
2018 30.39 271st 383 29.2%
2019 47.20 188th 396 52.5%
2022 67.91 91st 420 78.3%
2023 59.15 166th 435 61.8%
2024 70.08 112th 433 74.1%
See the entire list of New Mexico Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 76.88 22nd 203 89.2%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 48.77 60th 132 54.5%
2023 67.73 49th 165 70.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.85 228th 356 36.0%
2019 53.20 148th 361 59.0%
2022 75.47 41st 410 90.0%
2023 68.77 132nd 426 69.0%
2024 83.19 30th 237 87.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.60 212th 339 37.5%
2019 67.91 80th 343 76.7%
2022 61.98 103rd 395 73.9%
2023 47.96 198th 390 49.2%
2024 63.99 113th 393 71.2%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.50 223rd 333 33.0%
2019 53.72 129th 337 61.7%
2022 67.54 74th 392 81.1%
2023 68.95 110th 414 73.4%
2024 72.01 110th 410 73.2%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.89 245th 329 25.5%
2019 51.27 140th 320 56.3%
2022 63.84 81st 389 79.2%
2023 83.07 63rd 395 84.1%
2024 81.15 65th 390 83.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Rio Grande Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NM State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 40.83 128th 199 35.7%
2022 34.90 234th 325 28.0%
2023 56.17 164th 413 60.3%
See the entire list of Best New Mexico Elementary 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.

Rio Grande Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: New Mexico Public Education Department

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Enrollment information for Rio Grande Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1990 291 5 0 364 0 n/a n/a 0 660
1991 91 5 0 219 0 n/a n/a 0 315
1992 135 2 0 196 0 n/a n/a 0 333
1993 149 2 1 232 0 n/a n/a 0 384
1994 126 2 0 197 0 n/a n/a 0 325
1995 127 1 1 202 1 n/a n/a 0 332
1996 127 1 1 202 1 n/a n/a 0 332
1997 136 3 0 196 1 n/a n/a 0 336
1998 151 1 0 220 2 n/a n/a 0 374
1999 122 0 2 207 15 n/a n/a 0 346
2000 111 0 2 202 10 n/a n/a 0 325
2001 109 4 0 214 13 n/a n/a 0 340
2002 96 5 0 222 5 n/a n/a 0 328
2003 96 5 0 222 5 n/a n/a 0 328
2004 87 8 3 216 7 n/a n/a 0 321
2005 87 7 2 231 7 n/a n/a 0 334
2006 77 4 1 257 4 n/a n/a 0 343
2007 70 7 0 253 4 n/a n/a 0 334
2008 59 3 0 244 4 n/a n/a 0 310
2009 55 0 0 229 1 n/a n/a 0 285
2010 56 1 0 220 0 0 0 0 277
2011 68 1 1 227 0 0 0 0 297
2012 58 0 0 233 0 0 1 0 292
2013 50 7 0 254 1 0 0 0 312
2014 75 5 0 242 3 0 0 0 325
2015 56 3 0 233 2 0 0 0 294
2016 75 5 0 247 2 0 0 0 329
2017 76 5 0 228 2 0 0 0 311
2018 71 3 0 235 3 0 1 0 313
2019 64 3 0 226 3 0 1 0 297
2020 60 3 0 238 3 0 2 0 306
2021 41 3 0 203 3 0 0 0 250
2022 43 3 1 229 0 0 0 0 276
2023 52 4 1 299 0 0 1 0 357
2024 49 4 0 299 6 0 1 0 359

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 Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 660 33.2 19.8 n/a
1991 315 18.9 16.6 n/a
1992 333 19.3 17.2 n/a
1993 384 18.7 20.5 n/a
1994 325 18.9 17.2 n/a
1995 332 23.6 14.1 n/a
1996 332 23.6 14.1 n/a
1997 336 20.6 16.3 n/a
1998 374 20.0 18.7 n/a
1999 346 22.7 15.2 78.9
2000 325 22.9 14.2 81.2
2001 340 25.1 13.5 82.4
2002 328 21.0 15.6 88.4
2003 328 21.0 15.6 88.4
2004 321 24.3 13.2 93.8
2005 334 22.7 14.7 94.3
2006 343 26.1 13.1 93.6
2007 334 25.0 13.4 99.1
2008 310 23.0 13.5 99
2009 285 27.0 10.6 98.9
2010 277 26.0 10.6 98.9
2011 297 23.0 12.9 99
2012 292 22.5 12.9 99
2013 312 24.4 12.7 99
2014 325 23.8 13.6 99.1
2015 294 24.0 12.2 68.4
2016 329 24.0 13.7 100
2017 311 24.5 12.6 100
2018 313 21.5 14.5 99.7
2019 297 22.0 13.5 100
2020 306 22.0 13.9 100
2021 250 21.5 11.6 100
2022 276 21.5 12.8 100
2023 357 25.5 14.0 100
2024 359 27.0 13.2 100

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 Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1990 660 33.2 19.8 n/a
1991 315 18.9 16.6 n/a
1992 333 19.3 17.2 n/a
1993 384 18.7 20.5 n/a
1994 325 18.9 17.2 n/a
1995 332 23.6 14.1 n/a
1996 332 23.6 14.1 n/a
1997 336 20.6 16.3 n/a
1998 374 20.0 18.7 n/a
1999 346 22.7 15.2 78.9
2000 325 22.9 14.2 81.2
2001 340 25.1 13.5 82.4
2002 328 21.0 15.6 88.4
2003 328 21.0 15.6 88.4
2004 321 24.3 13.2 93.8
2005 334 22.7 14.7 94.3
2006 343 26.1 13.1 93.6
2007 334 25.0 13.4 99.1
2008 310 23.0 13.5 99
2009 285 27.0 10.6 98.9
2010 277 26.0 10.6 98.9
2011 297 23.0 12.9 99
2012 292 22.5 12.9 99
2013 312 24.4 12.7 99
2014 325 23.8 13.6 99.1
2015 294 24.0 12.2 68.4
2016 329 24.0 13.7 100
2017 311 24.5 12.6 100
2018 313 21.5 14.5 99.7
2019 297 22.0 13.5 100
2020 306 22.0 13.9 100
2021 250 21.5 11.6 100
2022 276 21.5 12.8 100
2023 357 25.5 14.0 100
2024 359 27.0 13.2 100

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 Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $10,150

Data source: New Mexico Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Rio Grande Elementary

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
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 188th of 396 Elementary schoolsRanks 166th of 435 Elementary schools
 9.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Language Arts (Rio Grande Elementary)5048.5
 1.5%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (Belen)3332.3
 0.7%
   3rd Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3031.8
 1.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Rio Grande Elementary)5936.4
 22.6%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Belen)3824.5
 13.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)3222.5
 9.5%
4th Grade Language Arts (Rio Grande Elementary)2942.3
 13.3%
   4th Grade Language Arts (Belen)2835.2
 7.2%
   4th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3035.2
 5.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Rio Grande Elementary)4253.8
 11.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Belen)3230
 2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)2724.5
 2.5%
5th Grade Language Arts (Rio Grande Elementary)1326.9
 13.9%
   5th Grade Language Arts (Belen)3233.2
 1.2%
   5th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3335.7
 2.7%
6th Grade Language Arts (Rio Grande Elementary)1853.8
 35.8%
   6th Grade Language Arts (Belen)3537.7
 2.7%
   6th Grade Language Arts (New Mexico)3132.9
 1.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Rio Grande Elementary)1369.2
 56.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Belen)1948.8
 29.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (New Mexico)1932.5
 13.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students297357
 20.2%
African American34
 33.3%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian01
Hispanic226299
 32.3%
Pacific Islander00
White6452
 18.8%
Two or More Races11
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients100%100%


Schools Near Rio Grande Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Rio Grande Elementary

Rio Grande Elementary ranks 112th of 433 New Mexico elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Rio Grande Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Belen Middle
High : Belen High

Students at Rio Grande Elementary are 83% Hispanic, 14% White, 2% American Indian, 1% African American.

In the 2023-24 school year, 359 students attended Rio Grande Elementary.


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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.





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