Page 57 - SandovalCountyConnection_2017

Sandoval County Connection 51

district’s strategic plan sets forth goals for teachers, district Excellence in Athletics
leaders, parents, students, and the school board in develop-
ing each of the four characteristics. While striving to RRPS high schools have won more than 60
continuously improve teaching and learning and outcomes state sports championships:
for students, many successes form the platform on which to
build and grow: The state large-school football championship
in four of the last six years against undefeated
teams.
Academic Excellence
Since its establishment in 1994, Rio Rancho Public Schools passion, growth and achievement. It is believed that to be Every state large-school wrestling cham-
(RRPS) has consistently served to provide state-of-the-art successful is to look to the future – to set our sights on RRPS students either matched or exceeded the pionship, with the exception of 2003.
education for its children. The story of the District is successful results, to determine the best ways to achieve consortium-wide (national) average scale

unique, as it is truly a reflection of dedicated leadership, those results, and to measure progress with a constant score and exceeded the state average scale
community members, teachers and parents and their focus on continuous improvement. score in each of the six high school courses on
commitment to student excellence. At RRPS, everyone –teachers, students, parents and the the PARCC achievement exams.
RRPS is known for rigorous academic expectations and district – plays a role in ensuring the success of students. RRPS schools have claimed multiple titles in:
strong academic achievement, robust and award- winning This partnership has served to establish the profile of a In 2015-16, 966 high school students took 1,472
fine and performing arts at all grade levels and champion- graduate as a guide to preparation for students after high Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with more Baseball Golf (boys and girls)
ship athletic teams. The District graduation rate of 84.4 school. The prole identifies four characteristics for guiding than half scoring well enough to earn college Bowling Soccer
percent is well ahead of the national average and is the students to success beyond high school in college, the credit. RRPS high schools administer 29 differ- Boys basketball Softball
highest graduation rate in the state for large school military, and a career. ent AP exams. Cheer Track and field
districts. Football (boys and girls)
Helen Keller said, “The only thing worse than being blind Fine Arts and Music Girls cross-country Volleyball
is having sight but no vision.” The vision at RRPS is to find
RRPS graduates will:
and develop the potential in every student for his or her The RRPS Fine Arts Department earned the Wrestling
2015 New Mexico Activities Association Distin-
guished Service Award and the 2013 New
Mexico Music Educators Award of Distinction,
the highest honor the Association bestows on
school districts.

In 2016, Rio Rancho High won two fine arts
state championships – 6A Choir and One-Act
Production. The choir performed as the Honor
Choir at the Association’s All State Festival and
recently gave a special concert performance at
New York’s Carnegie Hall.

All elementary students receive music and art
instruction and approximately 2/3 of all
secondary students are enrolled in a fine arts
class at any given time.

Administration

Year after year, RRPS teachers, administrators,
and staff receive top state, regional, and
national honors.

Rio Rancho Public Schools ranked at the top of
New Mexico school districts for achievement
gained for dollars spent, according to produc-
tivity studies conducted by the Center for
American Progress.

The District’s strategic plan sets forth

Sandoval County Connection 55