RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
RIO RANCHO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
The design team of SMPC & McClain + Yu partnered with Rio Rancho Public Schools to develop a new, purpose-built campus for Independence High School, an alternative education program serving students who benefit from flexible, individualized learning environments. The project relocates the school from its existing facility to a new site designed to better support its mission of resilience, personal growth, and graduation readiness. The campus is planned as a standalone high school facility, with the broader site allowing for future district expansion.
The new Independence High School will serve 10th through 12th-grade students referred from within the district, emphasizing small class sizes, mentorship-based instruction, and credit recovery. The building will be approximately 43,175 gross square feet, initially accommodating 200 students, with planned capacity for future growth to approximately 350 students. Program elements include flexible classrooms, common indoor and outdoor breakout spaces, science labs, art lab, counseling and support spaces, Weight Room and Auxiliary Gymnasium, Auditorium and Cafeteria , food service, administration, and a range of indoor and outdoor learning environments that reinforce the school’s student-centered educational model.
Located at the corner of Northern Boulevard NE and Ontario Place NE in Rio Rancho, the site consists of two adjacent parcels totaling 16 acres and is served by public utilities. The building is envisioned as a secure, interior courtyard-oriented structure balancing openness with safety, incorporating clear circulation, controlled entry, and strong visual site connections. Design goals prioritize student security, flexibility, inclusivity, and sustainability, with the project exceeding Energy Star requirements through energy-efficient mechanical systems, daylighting design, and climate-responsive strategies. Early site work for grading and utilities was started in September of 2025, and Building Construction beginning Winter 2026 with project completion targeted for April 2027.
Project Highlights
- Purpose-built alternative high school for Rio Rancho Public Schools
- 43,175 GSF facility supporting flexible, student-centered learning
- Flexible classrooms, labs, and support spaces organized around a central courtyard
- Secure campus design with clear circulation and controlled entry
- Planned for future enrollment growth and long-term district needs
Project Team
