Rio Rancho Public Schools officials described a package of attendance interventions — backed by a $200,000 attendance grant — that district staff said coincided with sharp declines in chronic absenteeism at middle and high schools.
Secondary School Improvement Officer Renee Salcedo told the board Aug. 11 that student services used the $200,000 grant to hire two social workers, each assigned to two middle schools, to work directly with families. Salcedo said the social workers and other efforts prompted outreach into family situations that contributed to absenteeism.
The district also described operational changes tied to credit and finals: students who miss nine or fewer days in a semester may take the review session as their final and avoid coming back on the final-exam day; students missing 10 or more days must come in to take finals in person. The district also instituted a seat-time requirement: students missing 15 or more days may be given a comprehensive test to confirm competency before credits are awarded; if they fail, targeted work is required.
Salcedo presented data showing chronic absenteeism at middle schools decreased from 29% in 2023–24 to 20% in 2024–25; comprehensive high schools dropped from 43.8% (pre-intervention) to 22.9% and then to 20.9% most recently. Board members and the superintendent emphasized that persistent absenteeism remains a concern and urged continued family engagement.
Trustees praised the social workers and called for consideration of additional positions; Trustee Gary Tripp recommended evaluating whether more social workers should be added at middle and high schools. The district said it will continue to monitor attendance and present follow-up metrics to the board.