Excellent
#58 of 864 schools in NM
Top 7% in state
Rio Grande Elementary
Elementary School · BELEN
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Enrollment
359
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
359
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
New Mexico schools
#58 of 864
In Belen
#2 of 10
public schools
In district
#2 of 10
BELEN
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Excellent
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Rio Grande Elementary
Elementary School in Belen · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Belen Family School
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Belen Infinity High
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Rio Grande Elementary
Rio Grande Elementary is a public elementary school in Belen, NM, part of BELEN. Rio Grande Elementary serves approximately 359 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Rio Grande Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #58 of 864 schools in NM.
Structured state assessment records for Rio Grande Elementary show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
- This school 8.6 · Excellent
- District avg 7.0
- NM avg 6.2
What Parents Should Know
50% of students at Rio Grande Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Rio Grande Elementary — Students at Rio Grande Elementary score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 23 test records from NM state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.3/10.
How Rio Grande Elementary Compares
See how Rio Grande Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
520 NORTH MAIN ST, Belen, NM 87002
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Rio Grande Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. GIL SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY (rated 8.8/10, 3.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN (rated 7.6/10, 1.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY (rated 7.0/10, 5.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Belen, see our Belen schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 10.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| BELEN FAMILY SCHOOL Belen | 0.1 mi | 6.5 |
| BELEN INFINITY HIGH Belen | 0.9 mi | 4.7 |
| BELEN MIDDLE Belen | 0.9 mi | 3.8 |
| CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Belen | 1.2 mi | 6.6 |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL BELEN Belen | 1.4 mi | 7.6 |
| CANON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Belen | 2.1 mi | 6.1 |
| LA MERCED ELEMENTARY Belen | 1.9 mi | 6.3 |
| BELEN HIGH Belen | 2.0 mi | 5.7 |
| DEL RIO ACADEMY Los Lunas | 2.8 mi | 3.4 |
| GIL SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY Belen | 3.2 mi | 8.8 |
| DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY Belen | 5.0 mi | 7.0 |
| TOME ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 6.4 mi | 5.2 |
| VALENCIA MIDDLE SCHOOL Los Lunas | 6.9 mi | 5.5 |
| DESERT VIEW ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 7.5 mi | 6.0 |
| VALENCIA HIGH Los Lunas | 8.3 mi | 5.8 |
| SCHOOL OF DREAMS ACADEMY Los Lunas | 9.9 mi | 7.0 |
| CENTURY ALT HIGH Los Lunas | 10.1 mi | 5.5 |
| LOS LUNAS MIDDLE Los Lunas | 10.4 mi | 5.6 |
| RAYMOND GABALDON ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 10.7 mi | 6.9 |
| LOS LUNAS ELEMENTARY Los Lunas | 10.7 mi | 5.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 87002 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$51,537
Median Home Value
$183,700
Median Rent
$859/mo
Population
21,375
College Educated
18.8%
Homeownership
82.1%
Avg Commute
26.6 min
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Median Age
45.4
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| CHAPARRAL ELEMENTARY Chaparral, NM | 8.6 |
| LA UNION ELEMENTARY Anthony, NM | 8.6 |
| ALBUQUERQUE BILINGUAL ACADEMY Albuquerque, NM | 8.7 |
| BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY Hobbs, NM | 8.5 |
| DESERT VIEW ELEMENTARY Sunland Park, NM | 8.7 |
| HUBERT H HUMPHREY ELEMENTARY Albuquerque, NM | 8.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Rio Grande Elementary
What grades does Rio Grande Elementary serve?
Rio Grande Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Rio Grande Elementary?
Rio Grande Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 359 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rio Grande Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rio Grande Elementary is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Rio Grande Elementary rank in NM?
Rio Grande Elementary ranks #58 of 864 schools in NM.
What is Rio Grande Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Rio Grande Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Rio Grande Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Rio Grande Elementary has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Rio Grande Elementary a charter school?
No, Rio Grande Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Rio Grande Elementary a Title I school?
No, Rio Grande Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Rio Grande Elementary?
100.0% of students at Rio Grande Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 359
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Valencia County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 50.1%
- Phone
- (505) 966-2200
Resources & Links
District
BELEN- District Enrollment
- 3,564
- Schools in District
- 10
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,218
- District Rank
- #2 of 10
Other Schools in This District
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