Las Cruces, N.M. – The Las Cruces Public Schools district has drawn sharp criticism from families and staff after unveiling a draft plan to combine the high‑performing Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy (MVLA) middle school with the struggling Rio Grande Preparatory Institute (RGPI) high school into a single 6‑12 academy.

Proposed consolidation and timeline

The district says the merger is a financially driven decision aimed at preserving two small‑school options in a climate of declining enrollment. Superintendent Ignacio Ruiz announced in April that the middle school would relocate to the high school campus, with the combined school slated to open in fall 2027. The plan must be approved by the state Education Department by January, or RGPI could face closure or a state takeover.

Community concerns about process

Critics argue the district bypassed required public notice and board approval. New Mexico Public Education Department spokesperson Janelle Taylor García noted that state law typically requires a board vote, public notice, and documented community engagement before such a restructuring. Board members, parents and students say they were not consulted and that the district’s press releases and surveys gave the impression the decision was inevitable.

“The district has somehow led the community to believe that they don’t have a voice in this,” parent Clara Cobos said. “They’ve actually made it seem like it’s inevitable, even though they haven’t gotten the approval from the board.”

Impact on students

Students at MVLA, which many families chose for its focused learning environment and “house” system, fear the merger will dilute the quality of education they receive. Thirteen‑year‑old Beckett Hakes, a current MVLA student, expressed frustration that the move appears to sacrifice the middle school’s success for RGPI’s benefit.

“We were doing great, and because we were great, and they weren’t great, we have to be mid,” Hakes said. “They are totally sacrificing us, and RGPI benefits.”

Student council President Noelle Smith, 14, described the longer commute and reduced space as a “hard change” for middle‑schoolers, noting that some students now spend up to an hour on the bus.

Financial rationale

District officials stress that maintaining two separate small schools is financially untenable. Board member Patrick Nolan highlighted the importance of career technical education (CTE) funding, noting that the combined academy would qualify as a high school and could recapture Perkins Grant funds currently withheld from RGPI due to low performance.

RGPI’s recent academic metrics are stark: fewer than 20% of students were proficient in math, 11% in reading and 14% in science during the 2023‑24 school year, with prior years in the single‑digit range. The school is currently in the lowest “More Rigorous Intervention” status, putting it at risk of state intervention.

Board response and next steps

Board President Pamela Cort admitted the district’s paperwork was incomplete, describing the situation as a “done deal” that caught the board off guard. The board’s vote on the consolidation, originally scheduled for Sept. 29, has been postponed pending additional community input. The agenda for the upcoming Tuesday meeting has not yet been posted.

District spokesperson Kelly Jameson emphasized that the consolidation aims to preserve a smaller learning environment for both middle and high school students while addressing enrollment declines. “We have two very small schools that financially… were becoming more and more difficult to sustain,” Cort said.

What’s at stake

If the state does not receive a satisfactory restructuring plan by the January deadline, RGPI could face closure, restructuring, or a takeover by the Education Department. Conversely, supporters argue that a unified 6‑12 academy could expand CTE opportunities and stabilize funding for the district.

The debate continues to unfold as families, educators and board members weigh the trade‑offs between fiscal responsibility and preserving the distinct educational environments that many parents value.

Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.