Rio Rancho High School

Introduction
Rio Rancho High School (RRHS) is a public Senior high school located in west central Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Opening in 1997 as part of the Rio Rancho Public Schools district, it is feed by Lincoln and Eagle Ridge middle schools. The current enrollment stands at 2477 (2013).

History
Rio Rancho Public Schools was created as a K-8 system because no high school existed in Rio Rancho at the time the district was founded in July 1994. At the time high school students living south of Northern Blvd. continued to be part of the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and attended Cibola High School. Students living north of Northern Blvd continued to be part of the Jemez Valley Public Schools district, though most attended classes at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, the only APS high school that had room for them at the time. Small numbers of students were scattered through nine additional metro area schools.

In 1995, Intel Corporation was considering a plant expansion, and approached Sandoval County about the possibility of issuing Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) to finance the project. As part of this request, Intel was willing to provide Sandoval County with funds for local projects benefiting the local area. One of the area’s biggest needs was for a high school to serve Rio Rancho. This led to conversations among Sandoval County, Intel, the City of Rio Rancho, and the school district about the possibility of Intel building a high school for Rio Rancho.

The result of these discussions was a unique community/business partnership. The Sandoval County Commission approved the issuance of $8 billion in industrial revenue bonds permitting Intel Corporation to finance plant improvements. In return, Intel built the $30 million high school facility — the city’s first — and leased it for one dollar per year to the Rio Rancho Public Schools. Because Intel had recently completed plant construction work in Rio Rancho, it had resources to manage the construction project in place. Rio Rancho High was built as a “design-build” project by the private sector.

Intel built the core facility: four of the five academy buildings, a gym and the performing arts center. The district was responsible for providing furnishings, technology, and equipment. The district subsequently completed the current Humanities Academy building, as well as all of the athletics facilities and other improvements. A Rio Rancho 2007 bond issue added a drama classroom/”black box” theater facility and field house facilities for soccer, track, and cross country to the Rio Rancho High campus.

In 2008 due to overcrowding at Rio Rancho High school, the Rio Rancho Public Schools district built the V. Sue Cleveland High School, which opened in August 2009. During that year incoming 9th through 11th grade students who resided south of Northern Blvd. attended Rio Rancho High School, and all residing north of Northern Blvd. began to attend V. Sue Cleveland High School. The senior class of 2010 continued to attend Rio Rancho High School regardless of where they resided in Rio Rancho.

Popular culture
Rio Rancho High School was used as filming location for the TV show Breaking Bad, being portrayed in the show as J. P. Wynne High School.

The campus was also used as a film location in the 2011 movie Fright Night.

Notable alumni

 * Chris Williams - wide receiver who played in the NFL and CFL
 * Tim Madigan - golfer who played on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Canada and Web.com Tour

Academics
The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) replaced the No Child Left Behind Act and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) testing with a new school grading formula, which took effect for the 2010-11 school years. The grade is calculated using many forms of testing, and includes graduation rates.

AVID
Rio Rancho High School offers Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) , is a college preparation program designed by a teacher in the San Diego school system 30 years ago. The program is for students who want to improve their lives through the educational process - both in high school and in college. AVID curriculum implements strategies to help the student keep organized, take quality notes in class and provide bi-weekly tutorial sessions (study groups) with the intent to support the student in progressing through high school in a successful fashion to ensure college admission.

PLTW
RRHS employes the project-based aspects of the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum which gives students a chance to apply what they know, identify a problem, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning, rather than be passive recipients of information in a question-and-answer, right-or-wrong learning environment. PLTW’s premier high school program, Pathway To Engineering™, is a four-year course of study integrated into the students’ core curriculum. The combination of traditional math and science courses with innovative Pathway To Engineering courses prepares students for college majors in engineering and E/T fields and offers them the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school.

RoboRAVE
The Rio Rancho Robotics Club prepares and participates in annual RoboRAVE International competitions. This program aims to make robotics accessible to any kid, anywhere with the goals of having fun while learning, sharing and teamwork. RoboRAVE's motto is “Today’s Play, Tomorrow’s Pay.” Teams of students must design, assemble and program robotic kits to accomplish specific tasks.

Culinary
RRHS offers culinary classes utilizing the ProStart program which is a health and wellness, nutrition science program with the intent to provide Rio Rancho High School students with the integrate knowledge, skills, and practices required (for careers) in food production and services. This course was developed for students interested in going into the restaurant or hospitality and lodging fields. The course combines culinary and management skills, and includes guest speakers and field trips in the industry. Students develop culinary skills in nutrition, breakfast foods such as crepes, pancakes, hot and cold sandwiches, salads, vinegar's and salsas, garnishes, fruits and vegetables. Students learn about menu developing, cost planning and inventory control for running their own restaurant.

Vans Custom Culture Art Competition
Rio Rancho High School was named Grand Champion of the Fifth Annual Custom Culture Art and Design Competition, a national high school art competition in which 2,000 selected schools receive four pairs of blank Vans shoes to use as a canvas, to be designed according to four different themes: Art, Music, Action Sports and 'Local Flavor'. Once a school's designs are completed, they go through a voting process to narrow down the top 50 entries. Further voting by the public narrows the selection to the top 5 that go on to compete in the final event. These schools artists are flown out to celebrate their artwork and have noted judges vote on the grand prize winning submission.

At the final event held on June 10, 2014 at New York City's Industria Superstudio, celebrity judges MKTO, Steve Caballero, Matt Shultz, Kemal Harris, Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto selected the winning custom shoe designs. Vans presented Rio Rancho High School with the grand-prize $50,000 donation to support its art program. The winning shoe design was also produced and sold in select Vans and Journeys retail stores, and online at Vans.com and Journeys.com.

RRHS artists also won the Vans contest national finals in 2010 and 2012. In 2010 the grand prize was $10,000; by 2012 it had increased to $50,000. In 2012, RRHS also won an additional $5,000 in the Journeys Local Attitude competition for the best design reflecting a community's local flavor.

Dance
The Rio Rancho High School Dance Department established in 1997 is one of the few full time public school dance programs of its kind in New Mexico. The RRHS Dance Department offers five levels of instruction, starting with level 1 beginning and ending with Master Dance Company, a performance based company that performs three times a year in the RRHS Performing Arts Center (PAC). Dance techniques are offered in ballet, jazz, lyrical/Contemporary, modern, hip-hop, choreography and performance.

Athletics
Rio Rancho High School competes in the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), as a class 6A school in District 1. In addition to Rio Rancho High School, the schools in district 1-6A include: Cibola High School, Volcano Vista High School, V. Sue Cleveland High School and Piedra Vista High School.

Rio Rancho State Athletic Championships
Rio Rancho High School has captured 38 State Championships.

(State tournament consolation games are no longer played for Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball or Softball)

( *Year ) - indicates Dual Meet State Champions also

Cross Country
Rio Rancho High School has captured 1 individual State title through the 2015 season.

All-State honors are granted for a top 10 finish in class at the New Mexico State Cross Country Championships.

Football
The New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) produces All-State Teams for New Mexico high school football.

Volleyball
The New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) produces All-State Teams for New Mexico high school volleyball.

Basketball
The New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) produces All-State Teams for New Mexico high school basketball.

Swimming and Diving
Rio Rancho High School has captured 3 individual State titles through the 2016 season.

Wrestling
Rio Rancho High School has captured 62 individual State titles through the 2016 season.

Golf
Rio Rancho High School has captured 2 individual State titles through the 2015 season.

Softball
The New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) produces All-State Teams for New Mexico high school softball.

Track and Field
Rio Rancho High School has captured 31 individual State titles through the 2015 season

( *Event ) - indicates a State Record also

In 2004 Brandon McKinney set the current New Mexico state discus record with a throw of 183' 9" 

In 2014 Nicole Pendley set the current New Mexico state Javelin record with a throw of 142' 0" 

In 2014 the team of Danica Gallegos, Leilani Baker, Sasha Hickox and Molly Klein set the current New Mexico state 1600 Sprint Medley record with a time of 4:07.74 

Rio Rancho High School Athletics Hall of Fame
In 2014 the inaugural inductees to the Rio Rancho High School Athletics Hall of Fame were selected, immortalizing the best of Rio Rancho's athletic programs.

Rio Rancho State Activities Championships
Rio Rancho High School offers a variety of interscholastic activities also sponsored by the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) in cooperation with other outside organizations to enhance the high school experience.

Rio Rancho High School has captured 11 State Championships.

Athletic Training Challenge
The Athletic Training Challenge was started by the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) in conjunction with the New Mexico Athletic Trainer's Association (NMATA) to recognize Athletic Training as a sanctioned activity within New Mexico Schools.

DECA Marketing Education
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. At the 2013 State Conference Rio Rancho High School was awarded the 1st place Chapter Banner.

Marching Band
Rio Rancho High School's Marching Band competes annually in the Zia Marching Band Fiesta which is essentially the New Mexico state championship, as well as a prestigious regional event for marching bands. There were 32 bands in competition in four size divisions.

Rio Rancho High School has captured 1 Grand Championship

Rugby
High School rugby in New Mexico is governed by New Mexico Youth Rugby (NMYR), a registered non-profit and all volunteer sports organization dedicated to the development of youth and high school rugby for both boys and girls in New Mexico. Rio Rancho High School has captured 2 State Championships.

Ice Hockey
High School hockey in New Mexico is governed by the Land of Enchantment USA Hockey Affiliate (LOEAHA) and operated by the New Mexico Interscholastic Ice Hockey League (NMIIHL) which is comprised of eleven teams, including representatives from Colorado and Texas. The high school hockey season runs from October to March.

LOEAHA has established the New Mexico Interscholastic Ice Hockey League (NMIIHL) and State Playoff to determine the State’s representative to the USA Hockey High School Playoff. Each year LOEAHA and the NMIIHL, along with the qualifying team, will evaluate the viability of sending a State High School Champion to USA Hockey Post Season Play.

The Rio Rancho High School / V. Sue Cleveland High School team has captured 3 State Championships.