Our Mission & Core Values
The mission of Rio Grande School is to challenge each child's intellect, to inspire each child's imagination, and to nurture each child's desire to learn.
Rio Grande School is a small, coeducational, nonsectarian independent school for children in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. We strive to inspire a lifelong journey of learning and self-discovery that empowers students to find their own true passion and transforms the way they think about, engage with, and impact their world.
Rio Grande School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and The New Mexico Public Education Department.
At Rio Grande School we combine academic rigor and excellence with a collaborative, experience-based education. We bring learning to life through a challenging, integrated curriculum enhanced by differentiated instruction from master educators. We fully prepare students for the next phase of learning. Our K-6-quality curriculum taught by master educators enables preschoolers to make strong/seamless transition to elementary while our K-6 program provides a solid foundation for students to advance into middle school with skills/spirit that enable them to excel.
Rio Grande School offers a stimulating program in a safe community which values:
BUILD COMMUNITY
Community and Connection: We value strong relationships between students, families, and educators. Together, we build a supportive, inclusive community that reflects honesty, kindness, empathy, and a commitment to growth and belonging. We encourage a shared responsibility for the well-being of the world around us, recognizing our role as part of a larger global and natural community.
FIND YOUR POWER
Child-Centered: We celebrate the unique strengths, interests, and learning styles of every child. By nurturing independence, resilience, and a sense of responsibility, we prepare students to meet challenges with confidence and adaptability.
BE KIND
Embrace Diversity: We honor and celebrate the richness of human differences and perspectives, fostering an environment of inclusivity where every individual feels respected and valued. This commitment prepares students to thrive in an interconnected, diverse world and encourages respect for all living things.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Scholarship and Challenge: We cultivate curiosity and a love of learning through academic challenge, creative exploration, and the integration of arts and sciences. Our students develop critical thinking, communication skills, and the habits of mind necessary to navigate an ever-changing world.
BE OF SERVICE
Character and Stewardship: We nurture social and emotional growth alongside academic skills. By emphasizing accountability, compassion, and service, we empower students to act with integrity and positively contribute to their school, local, and global communities. Respect for the natural world is woven into this commitment, encouraging students to care for the planet and make thoughtful choices for its future.
Nuestra Misión y Valores Fundamentales
Core Values
Challenge
Rio Grande School's curriculum is a vigorous and vibrant program that stimulates each child's intellectual, artistic, and social growth. The academic program in all grades includes literature studies, extensive writing opportunities, research projects and a strong emphasis on the development of math and science skills.
Inspire
Located at the base of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains on five acres of high desert, surrounded by arroyos and hiking trails, our school’s campus is perfectly situated for students to engage with both the natural wonders of the outdoors and the academic rigors of the classroom.
Nurture
We believe that children learn best when they belong to a strong, safe community. We also believe that academic and social-emotional learning are distinctly intertwined. Supporting these beliefs, Rio Grande School practices the Responsive Classroom approach, which emphasizes social, emotional, and academic growth.
Valores Fundamentales
Desafio
El plan de estudios de la Escuela Rio Grande es un programa vigoroso y dinámico que estimula el crecimiento intelectual, artístico y social de cada niño. El programa académico en todos los grados incluye estudios de literatura, amplias oportunidades de redacción, proyectos de investigación y un fuerte énfasis en el desarrollo de habilidades matemáticas y científicas.
Inspirar
Ubicado en la base de las montañas Sangre De Cristo, en cinco acres de desierto alto, rodeado de arroyos y senderos para caminatas, el campus de nuestra escuela está perfectamente ubicado para que los estudiantes interactúen tanto con las maravillas naturales del aire libre como con los rigores académicos del aula.
Nutrir
Fomentar el desarrollo Creemos que los niños aprenden mejor cuando pertenecen a una comunidad fuerte y segura. También creemos que el aprendizaje académico y socioemocional están claramente entrelazados. En apoyo de estas creencias, la Escuela Rio Grande practica el enfoque de Aula Receptiva, que enfatiza el crecimiento social, emocional y académico.