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Schools in Rio Communities · Belen Consolidated Schools

Rio Communities’s public schools score below 75% of New Mexico districts on tests and graduation

In Rio Communities, 62% of each class finishes high school in four years, below the New Mexico average (76%). The grade covers the public school district serving Rio Communities, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New Mexico, not nationally.

#64of 73 New Mexico townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Mexico state tests taken in spring 2022, when 93% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
29%
▼ 5 pts vs NM 34%
2021–22
Math proficiency
26%
▲ 2 pts vs NM 24%
2021–22
Graduate on time
62%
▼ 14 pts vs NM 76%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.3K
▼ 2% vs NM $17.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
NM 12.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
1,896 students on the public path
In brief

Rio Communities’s schools, in brief

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 29% and math 26% in spring 2022, against 34% and 24% statewide; 62% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 76%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,283 per student, against $17,681 across New Mexico (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Belen Middle, then Belen High. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Rio Communities’s grade

B− Test scoresD Graduation

C: better than 25% of New Mexico school districts, #64 of 73 New Mexico towns. Both inputs trail the New Mexico average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

New Mexico school districts we grade (139)Better than 25%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Mexico towns with similar household incomes (118)Better than 25%
DC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,774 test results and a graduating class of 279 could put Rio Communities anywhere from D to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 93% of Rio Communities’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,774 in math, 1,773 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Rio Communities, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6La Merced ElementaryBelen Consolidated SchoolsNo scores
7–8Belen Middlein BelenNo scores
9–12Belen Highin BelenC+

Rio Communities’s public schools are run by Belen Consolidated Schools, which also serves Belen. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Belen Consolidated SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 10 schools · 3,500 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (NM 12.9)
$17,283NM $17,681 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading29%
State average 33.8% · 1773 students tested
Math26%
State average 24.5% · 1774 students tested

Rio Communities vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Mexico towns that share Rio Communities’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Rio CommunitiesCBelen Consolidated Schools

Every school in Rio Communities

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New Mexico’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Rio Communitiesby address
La Merced Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Belen
463 students16:1Rate it →
Also serving Rio Communitiesin other towns
Belen Middle
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Belen
475 students16:1Rate it →
Belen High
High · Grades 9–12 · Belen
C+
958 students19:1Rate it →

Questions about Rio Communities’s schools

Are Rio Communities’s schools good?

On New Mexico’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Rio Communities children attend score below 75% of New Mexico’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #64 of 73 New Mexico towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 25%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Rio Communities in?

Belen Consolidated Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,500 students in 10 schools (2024–25).

Where do Rio Communities kids go to high school?

Belen High in Belen, with 958 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Rio Communities’s graduation rate?

62% of the class of 2023 in Belen Consolidated Schools graduated in four years, against 76% across New Mexico.

How much does Rio Communities spend per student?

$17,283 in Belen Consolidated Schools (FY2024), against $17,681 across New Mexico. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Rio Communities families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rio Communities → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New Mexico. Stars are from neighbors.