Sandoval County Schools & Education
Sandoval County, New Mexico
NCES + U.S. Census BureauSchool Score
28/100
Higher = better
Rating
Below Average
Graduation Rate
84.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 79.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,773
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,957
School Score
28/100
Higher = better
State avg 33/100
Student-Teacher Ratio
N/A
National avg 15.8 : 1
Free Lunch (Median)
N/A
National median 48.2%
State School Rank
#19
of 33 counties (1 = best)
Education Advisory: Sandoval County
School Verdict
Sandoval County faces educational challenges with a school score of 28/100 and a graduation rate of 84.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,773 per pupil, Sandoval County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Attainment Context
Educational attainment data for Sandoval County is not available.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% below the New Mexico average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 15% lower than the state norm.
Education Overview
About Schools in Sandoval County, New Mexico
Expansive Education Infrastructure in Sandoval
Sandoval County supports 43 public schools and seven districts, accommodating a massive student population of 22,382. The system features a robust mix of 23 elementary, nine middle, and nine high schools to serve its growing communities.
Strong Graduation Rates and Academic Scores
The county achieves a 84.9% graduation rate, significantly outperforming the state average of 79.0%. Despite a per-pupil expenditure of $6,773, which is below the national average, Sandoval maintains a solid composite school score of 50.4.
Rio Rancho Public Schools Dominates Enrollment
Rio Rancho Public Schools is the regional powerhouse, serving 17,272 students across 21 different campuses. The county also offers educational choice through four charter schools, which make up nearly 10% of the total school inventory.
Suburban Energy and Large Campus Life
With 22 suburban and 21 rural schools, the county offers diverse learning environments where the average school size is 521 students. Cleveland High School is the largest in the county, hosting an impressive 2,631 students in a modern suburban setting.
Relocate Near Top-Performing Rio Rancho Districts
High graduation rates make Sandoval County a premier destination for families seeking quality public education in New Mexico. Explore homes in the Rio Rancho area to gain access to some of the state's largest and most resource-rich high schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
43
in Sandoval County
Total Enrollment
22,382
students
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
4
9% of total
Student-Teacher Ratio
—
county average
Free Lunch (Median)
—
of students countywide
School Type Breakdown
7 School Districts in Sandoval County
RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BERNALILLO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CUBA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
THE ASK ACADEMY
JEMEZ VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION
WALATOWA CHARTER HIGH
43 Public Schools in Sandoval County
| School Name | District | Grades | Type | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 2,631 |
| RIO RANCHO HIGH | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 2,573 |
| RIO RANCHO MIDDLE SCHOOL | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 1,143 |
| MOUNTAIN VIEW MIDDLE | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 937 |
| LINCOLN MIDDLE | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 823 |
| EAGLE RIDGE MIDDLE | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 6–8 | Middle | 823 |
| ERNEST STAPLETON ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 815 |
| BERNALILLO HIGH | BERNALILLO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 9–12 | High | 806 |
| VISTA GRANDE ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 768 |
| ENCHANTED HILLS ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 723 |
| CIELO AZUL ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 698 |
| SANDIA VISTA ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PK–5 | Primary | 690 |
| MAGGIE CORDOVA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 674 |
| MARTIN KING JR ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 628 |
| THE ASK ACADEMY | THE ASK ACADEMY | 6–12 | Charter | 625 |
| SHINING STARS PRESCHOOL | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PK | Special Education | 612 |
| PUESTA DEL SOL ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 597 |
| COLINAS DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 584 |
| RIO RANCHO ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 534 |
| JOE HARRIS ELEMENTARY | RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | KG–5 | Primary | 517 |
Educational Attainment
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,773
State avg $7,957
Find Homes Near Top Schools
Browse homes in Sandoval County filtered by school ratings on Zillow.
Search on Zillow →Find a Tutor in Sandoval County
Connect with local and online tutors via Wyzant for personalized learning support.
Find a Tutor →Sponsored
Frequently Asked Questions
How do schools in Sandoval County rate?
What is the graduation rate in Sandoval County?
How much does Sandoval County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Sandoval County, New Mexico — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Sandoval County, New Mexico?
Sandoval County supports 43 public schools and seven districts, accommodating a massive student population of 22,382. The system features a robust mix of 23 elementary, nine middle, and nine high schools to serve its growing communities.
How do schools in Sandoval County perform academically?
The county achieves a 84.9% graduation rate, significantly outperforming the state average of 79.0%. Despite a per-pupil expenditure of $6,773, which is below the national average, Sandoval maintains a solid composite school score of 50.4.
What are the major school districts in Sandoval County, New Mexico?
Rio Rancho Public Schools is the regional powerhouse, serving 17,272 students across 21 different campuses. The county also offers educational choice through four charter schools, which make up nearly 10% of the total school inventory.
What is the school experience like in Sandoval County?
With 22 suburban and 21 rural schools, the county offers diverse learning environments where the average school size is 521 students. Cleveland High School is the largest in the county, hosting an impressive 2,631 students in a modern suburban setting.
How can I find homes near good schools in Sandoval County, New Mexico?
High graduation rates make Sandoval County a premier destination for families seeking quality public education in New Mexico. Explore homes in the Rio Rancho area to gain access to some of the state's largest and most resource-rich high schools.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.