Rio Rancho Elementary School

4601 Pepe Ortiz Road Southeast

School District

Rio Rancho Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Rio Rancho Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 03, 2025

My child is a post covid student, and an out of state transplant. Class sizes are great, but individual attention to students is still lacking. The school does not seem to care if all students can spell on grade level as long as progress is shown, which is both positive and negative. Emotional wellbeing seems to have decent focus at RRES, at least with my child's experience. The staff provides tools and space for children to focus on regulating themselves. Kids are still kids and bullying is taking place on school grounds. RRES seems to handle it well sometimes... and poorly almost as often. RRES seems to stay on top of poor quality teachers, and weeds them out. So the staff quality is overall great. Opportunities for family involvement are lacking, especially with the district cost to be an approved volunteer, but that isn't necessarily the school's fault. The school does provide after school clubs for the students at zero cost which is great. The school and it's grounds are in great shape.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2023

As a parent of a now 1st grader, I am not impressed with this school. Last year her teacher was not very engaging and I rarely got progress reports. This year at meet the teacher I didn't really "meet the teacher" it was more like a cattle-call than a meet the teacher. Last year I met the teacher, her classmates and saw the classroom she would be in.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2018

Disappointed in upper Administration. Upper Administration shift blame instead of taking responsibility. There is not up to date school zone indication causing high speeds around the school. Strong lack of special education response for students.
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2018

I have been very impressed with my children’s teachers and support staff. They really care about the kids and go above and beyond to make sure their students can be succesful and build them up. I have seen amazing progress in my kids’ education and confidence in their work.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2018

If you want to be an involved parent, DO NOT send your kids to this school. It is a joke how many meetings I have attended with the same issues and nothing has been resolved. My child has a learning disability and was told that he no longer had it, and then when the problem was “corrected” he continues to be denied his accommodations. The teachers and especially the admin involved have an attitude towards my child and he has grown to hate going to school. Even district employees involved have been ineffective, there is no follow-up, and no results. THIS SCHOOL SUCKS!
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2015

This is my chids first year and it has been nothing but drama, first a bullying double standard with a child who has family that works for the school. My child has been hit in the face multiple times by the same child and all the principal says is its getting taken care of. We ate not even done with the first semester and I feel like I'm not welcome at the school and constantly being disriminated. I'm a very involved parent part of the PTA and volunteer as much as they let me but I still feel the looks and negativity maybe because I am a young tattooed mother. It's Terrible we have lived here for years and this school is going down the drain. Having axiety about my child going to school it not okay.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2015

The administration at this school is completely unprepared for the job of educating children and leading adults. The director of special education is about the most incompetent employee on campus and has been for 15 years, she is more concerned with protecting her friends who literally abuse children than helping to educate kids. This was a once a great school with a community feel, then the principal retired and the assistant principal was passed over so she moved on and is now running a great middle school. Pass on this school and soon, pass on this district.
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2014

My daughter has been attending this school for the past four years, and while no school is perfect, it has been a good experience for us. What I have experienced is that the teachers are mostly very caring, and if there are any missteps, the principal and vice principal are very quick to address any concerns. In my opinion, a successful school happens when parents are involved with what their kids are doing, and are involved in their child's school. What I have noticed is the vast majority of parents are waiting for someone else to start that after school club, someone else's dad to be a watch dog (playground presence to curtail bullying), or someone else's mom to help the PTA. If you really want an awesome school, you are part of making that happen. You can "chase" the best schools in any school district, but those best schools were created by parents who took the time (even small chunks) to make their school great.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2014

This is an awful school, a lot of communication break downs, inconsistencies, double standards, and zero accountability. The bullying is horrendous, the children are not very safe safety guidelines are not enforced there are children on campus as early as 8:00 AM with no supervision and while this also is an issue with the parents, nothing is said or done about it. You can never get a strait answer for anything it seems the teachers don't look happy to be there it's overall a piss poor environment and an awful place to send your child. I switched my kids as fast as possible with no looking back. Spare yourself the headache and choose another school.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2014

I have had three kids attend this school and my last one will not go here. The bullying at this school is ridiculous, although with the new principal and assistant principal it does seem a bit better. The old principal did not give a hoot about the bullying problems within her school. The majority of the teachers that were amazing at this school have left and been replaced with teachers that could care less about actually teaching their students but rather how high their test scores can be. If your child has a learning disability and cannot test very well forget it. There is limited help and they will just keep pushing your kid along until you intervene. Unfortunately most parents do not intervene which doesn't help with the bigger problem. If you do not put in a 100% effort at home helping your child along the way they will get lost in the shuffle at this school. The after school activities stink and there is only two to choose from while the other elementary schools in Rio Rancho have lots to choose from. This school needs some serious help. It used to be halfway decent with small classes and great staff but has since been replaced with the bottom of the barrel.
Submitted by parent on January 06, 2014

Horrible, horrible, horrible!!!!!!! They started to alow my daughter to fall through the cracks and not help when she began I all back on certain subjects. Her teacher was very unhelpful and condescending. No help from other educators. Had to switch schools.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2013

Our experience here is just dreadful. Teachers seem uninterested and oblivious to the problems. Bullying is out of hand here. Children are very poorly supervised and that in turn contributes to the bullying problem. There is a lack of true care and concern for children from teachers and staff. It is much more babysitting than any academics. My child is not learning anything at all.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2013

I do not recommend this school. Bullying is a problem and is not addressed even when you complain about it. Some teachers are completely blind to what is happening in their own classrooms and in fact discourage kids from reporting bullying. We moved cross country for work and chose Rio Rancho for the "best" schools in the area. We were severely disappointed. We moved our son to private school this year and he is so much happier and in one week has learned more than he did in months at this school. Do not send your kids here!
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2013

This school is just terrible! There is NO leadership, no communication from the teachers or administration to the parents. The PTA is not active at all, the functions are very poorly run and in turn poorly attended. Very few afterschool activities or clubs. I know of some clubs that tried to get in to offer different activities and they were turned away- but are welcomed at the other Rio Rancho schools with open arms. They are VERY unwelcoming to volunteers. The teachers we have encountered have very low standards and seem to really dislike children or be completely burnt out or made miserable by the principal. A miserable experience!!
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2012

The principal is very rude and out of touch with the students and staff at this school. Her ethics are very questionable. The only good thing is the teachers. Hope the district makes the change at the principle level.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2011

THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING SCHOOL!! THE TEACHERS ARE AMAZING, THE LEADERSHIP IS TOP NOTCH. WE HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND HE HAS JUST MADE HUGE ADVANCEMENTS SINCE ATTENDING RIO RANCHO ELEMENTARY. THE STAFF IS ENGAGED, NURTURING AND HAVE THE SKILL SET NEEDED EFFECTIVELY TEACH THE STUDENTS. HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN NEW MEXICO!!