Private School Review - Established 2003

Rio Rancho Private Elementary Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 private elementary schools serving 619 students in Rio Rancho, NM.
The average acceptance rate is 99%, which is higher than the New Mexico private elementary school average acceptance rate of 85%.
75% of private elementary schools in Rio Rancho, NM are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Pentecostal).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Rio Rancho Private Elementary Schools (2026-27)

St. Thomas Aquinas School Photo
St. Thomas Aquinas School
Gr: PK-8 | 391 students
Avg. class size: 25 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
1100 Hood Road SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
(505) 892-3221
(4)
View Profile
Map of Gospel Light Baptist Academy
Gospel Light Baptist Academy
Gr: K-12 | 169 students
Avg. class size: 14 students
Baptist
1500 Southern Blvd SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
(505) 289-2130
View Profile
Map of Leap International Montessori School
Leap International Montessori School
Gr: PK-4 | 35 students
Montessori School
1598 Sara Rd
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
(505) 994-9433
View Profile
Map of Living Word Christian Academy
Living Word Christian Academy
Gr: 1-12 | 24 students
Alternative School (Pentecostal)
1901 17th Ave Ne
Rio Rancho, NM 87144
(505) 892-7378
View Profile

Rio Rancho, NM Private School Trends (10-Year)

4
Private Schools
619
Students
+21.6% (+110 students) 10-yr
$4,136
Avg. Tuition
-1.5% (-$64) 10-yr
20
Avg. Class Size
-20.0% (-5 students) 10-yr
69%
Students of Color
+19.0% (+11.0 pp) 10-yr
13:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-13.3% (-2.0) 10-yr
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Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Rio Rancho)
This State (NM)
# Schools
4 Schools
135 Schools
# Students
619 Students
19,028 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private Elementary School

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
2025155143199
2024155140192
2023137142193
2022121138205
2021121131201
202098121188
2019128125193
2018133121190
2017127128199
2016127133196
2015127132183
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% Students of Color
69%
52%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202569%51%33%
202469%51%32%
202368%54%32%
202268%54%32%
202168%52%31%
202068%53%31%
201971%56%31%
201871%56%30%
201758%57%31%
201658%57%31%
201558%57%31%
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0.66
0.73

Diversity Score Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
20250.660.730.64
20240.660.730.64
20230.650.740.63
20220.550.740.62
20210.550.740.62
20200.560.730.62
20190.590.730.61
20180.590.730.60
20170.610.720.59
20160.610.720.59
20150.610.730.58
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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
26 Students
1,778 Students
% American Indian Students
4%
10%

Percentage of Private Elementary School Students of American Indian Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
20255%10%1%
20245%10%1%
20234%10%1%
20223%9%1%
20213%10%1%
20203%10%1%
20193%9%1%
20183%9%1%
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# Asian Students
23 Students
479 Students
% Asian Students
4%
3%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
20254%3%5%
20244%3%5%
20233%3%5%
20222%2%5%
20212%2%5%
20202%2%5%
20192%3%4%
20182%3%4%
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# Hispanic Students
309 Students
4,462 Students
% Hispanic Students
50%
26%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202550%26%9%
202450%27%9%
202351%27%9%
202262%29%8%
202162%28%9%
202061%28%9%
201958%29%8%
201858%29%8%
201750%30%8%
201650%30%8%
201550%29%8%
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# Black Students
14 Students
357 Students
% Black Students
2%
2%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
20252%2%8%
20242%2%8%
20233%2%8%
20223%2%7%
20213%2%8%
20203%2%8%
20193%2%8%
20183%2%8%
20176%2%7%
20166%2%8%
20156%2%8%
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# White Students
175 Students
6,961 Students
% White Students
28%
40%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202528%40%55%
202428%40%55%
202329%37%55%
202227%36%57%
202127%37%57%
202027%37%58%
201926%39%59%
201826%39%59%
201738%40%61%
201638%39%61%
201538%39%61%
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# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
19 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
70 Students
3,412 Students
% of Others Students
11%
19%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202511%19%22%
202411%18%22%
202310%21%22%
20223%22%22%
20213%21%20%
20204%21%19%
20198%18%20%
20188%18%20%
20176%16%19%
20166%18%18%
20156%19%18%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
47 Teachers
1,862 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202513:110:111:1
202413:19:111:1
202314:110:111:1
202211:110:111:1
202111:110:111:1
202011:110:111:1
201914:110:111:1
201815:110:111:1
201715:110:111:1
201615:110:112:1
201515:110:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
10%
59%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202510%59%54%
202410%60%54%
202310%60%53%
202210%61%53%
202110%61%53%
202010%62%53%
201910%62%52%
201810%62%52%
201710%60%51%
201610%58%51%
201510%53%50%
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Average Class Size
20 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
2025201516
2024201515
2023201515
2022201515
2021201515
2020201515
2019201515
2018251515
2017251515
2016251415
2015251415
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$4,136
$8,716

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
2025$4,136$9,029$14,043
2024$4,136$8,955$12,357
2023$4,136$8,868$11,693
2022$4,136$8,640$11,199
2021$4,136$9,001$10,824
2020$4,136$9,038$10,496
2019$3,525$8,997$10,300
2018$4,200$8,733$10,056
2017$4,200$8,632$9,712
2016$4,200$8,366$9,307
2015$4,200$8,229$8,903
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Average % on Financial Aid
20%
29%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202520%29%34%
202420%31%33%
202320%31%33%
202220%32%32%
202120%33%32%
202020%33%31%
201920%33%30%
201820%32%29%
201720%32%29%
201620%32%28%
201520%32%27%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$800
$3,999

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
2025$800$3,999$6,227
2024$800$3,981$6,113
2023$800$3,843$5,785
2022$800$3,526$5,514
2021$800$3,432$5,269
2020$800$3,388$5,141
2019$600$3,494$5,007
2018$600$2,758$4,752
2017$600$2,517$4,582
2016$600$3,440$4,396
2015$600$2,884$4,230
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Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
99%
85%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearRio Rancho, NM AvgNew Mexico (NM)National
202599%85%81%
202499%88%85%
202399%87%85%
202299%87%85%
202199%87%86%
202099%87%86%
201990%87%85%
201890%85%85%
201790%85%86%
201690%86%85%
201590%84%86%
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Average Number of Extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private elementary schools in Rio Rancho, NM?
The top ranked private elementary schools in Rio Rancho, NM is St. Thomas Aquinas School.
How many private elementary schools are located in Rio Rancho?
4 private elementary schools are located in Rio Rancho.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Rio Rancho?
75% of private elementary schools in Rio Rancho are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Pentecostal).
Which private elementary schools in Rio Rancho are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private elementary schools in Rio Rancho include: Gospel Light Baptist Academy vs. St. Thomas Aquinas School

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