Rio Grande Preparatory Institute

Río Grande Preparatory Institute is an alternative high school located in Mesilla, New Mexico, along US Highway 28. Serving students from ninth to twelfth grade, the school has a total enrollment of 148 students and offers a student-teacher ratio of 7.8:1. With 19 full-time equivalent teachers, Río Grande Preparatory Institute aims to provide personalized support in its alternative setting.

The school’s academic performance currently ranks at the 18th percentile among New Mexico schools, with a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and an Academic Score of 1.7 out of 10. Test results show that only 9% of students are proficient in ELA/Reading, while 6% meet proficiency standards in Math. While these numbers indicate areas for improvement, the school focuses on supporting individual student development and growth.

Río Grande Preparatory Institute is situated in a mid-size suburb with a community that values educational alternatives tailored to diverse needs.

With an enrollment of 148 students, Rio Grande Preparatory Institute is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

While current test scores at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.8:1, Rio Grande Preparatory Institute offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.