Education

Mission Statement
The Las Cruces Public Schools is committed to providing a high-quality,
world-class education that ensures success for every student through excellence in teaching resulting in higher academic achievement.

For families who are relocating to Las Cruces, there is nothing more important than quality education. The Las Cruces Public Schools and area private schools offer excellent facilities and staff devoted to the success and well being of every student.

Las Cruces Public Schools

Las Cruces Public Schools is the second largest school district in New Mexico. The school district includes Las Cruces, White Sands Missile Range, Doña Ana and Mesilla.

Las Cruces Public Schools’ educational goals focus every effort and resource to answer four critical questions in a child’s education. Those questions are –

1. What should students know and be able to do?
2. How will we know when they have learned it?
3. What do we do when they haven’t learned it?
4. What do we do when they come to us already knowing it?

Board of Education

Dr. Bonnie Votaw, President
Dr. Connie Phillips, Vice President
Chuck Davis, Secretary
Gene Gant
Leonel Briseno

Elementary schools

Private Schools

Las Cruces Catholic Schools
1331 N. Miranda, 88005 • (505) 526-2517
www.zianet.com/lccatholicschool

Vision statement – The children of the Las Cruces Catholic Schools are prepared spiritually, morally, academically and physically to meet life’s challenges as compassionate Christian Leaders.

Mission statement – We of the Las Cruces Catholic School community believe that the proclaiming of God’s message of peace, love and justice, should be accomplished through word and deed. Our mission, therefore, is to develop and nurture responsible individuals who will participate actively in a faith community, and willingly serve the needs of brothers and sisters of our human family to the best of their ability.

Accredited for grades K through 8 by the North Central Association.

Services and facilities –

• State licensed preschools
• Library skills and library media centers
• Physical education
• Competitive basketball, volleyball and flag football teams
• Spiritual development including daily morning devotions, lunch and dismissal prayers, liturgical celebrations weekly
• Religious education
• Student yearbook/ newspaper
• Before-and after-school care programs
• Separate middle school facilities

Mission Lutheran School
2752 Roadrunner Parkway, 88011
(505) 532-5489 • (505) 526-4614

Classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:30 am to 11:30 am for children ages 3 to 5 years.

Mission Lutheran Church believes strongly in educating God’s children. Therefore we have taken on the commitment of opening Mission Lutheran Pre-School, a Christ-centered preschool that offers Christian instruction and education, social, and physical development opportunities at age-appropriate levels.

Mesilla Valley Christian Schools
3850 Stern Drive, 88005 • (505) 525-8515
http://www.mvcsonline.com

Vision statement – Leading Christian school education in New Mexico.

Mission statement – The purpose of Mesilla Valley Christian Schools is to assist parents in their God-given responsibility to train their children to become disciples of Christ, serving our Savior daily in every aspect of life.

School mascot – SonBlazers

Motto – Molding Victorious Christian Students

Mesilla Valley Christian Schools (MVCS) is a Protestant, evangelical, and theologically conservative K-12 Christian school chartered by the State of New Mexico in 1974.

MVCS is an accredited member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and also has affiliation with the Christian School International. MVCS is one of only a few private schools in the state to earn accreditation privileges through three accreditation agencies – ACSI, the State of New Mexico, and the North Central Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

The seven-acre campus features four classroom buildings, a secondary lunchroom, and an elementary lunchroom/ daycare building. Included in these facilities are a choir and band room, library, full computer lab (used by all grades, including our campus-wide Blazer Net computer network), gymnasium, snack bar, high and middle school science labs, spacious classrooms, and four administrative offices.

The school offers students a wide variety of fine arts, academic and athletic activities. These activities include band for grades 5-12, basketball for boys and girls in grades 5-12, baseball for boys in grades 8 -12, cheerleading for grades 9-12; golf for boys and girls in grades 9-12, volleyball for girls in grades 6-12; vocal/ choir/ instrumental competitions for grades 6-12, a wide variety of ACSI and local academic competitions, and art classes for grades 6-12 at several skills levels.

New Mexico State University

Established in 1888 as an agricultural college and preparatory school, New Mexico State University (NMSU) is now recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a major research university and ranked in that institution’s top category – Level One or Research-Extensive. The university is also highly regarded in the fields of agriculture, engineering, science, business, education, social science and arts.

The total enrollment for the main campus and four branch campuses in the fall of 2006 was 26,875 with 16,415 students at the Las Cruces campus. The total faculty numbers 1,088, with 84 percent of the full-time faculty holding doctoral degrees. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:19. Programs offered include 77 bachelor degrees, 50 master degrees, 22 doctoral degrees, and two specialist in education programs.

Adjacent to the main campus is the Doña Ana Community College (DACC) which offers two-year programs and associate degrees in a number of specialized and technical programs, as well as allowing local residents the opportunity to meet personal educational goals.

NMSU’s Aggies entered the Western Athletic Conference in July 2005, and the university sponsors six intercollegiate sports for men and ten for women. Recently improved Aggie Memorial Stadium seats 30,343, and the 13,000-seat Pan American Center recently underwent a $23 million renovation.

NMSU also contributes almost immeasurably to the area’s arts and recreation offerings with a museum, art galleries, a symphony and other musical ensembles, professional theater, national performers, touring road shows, PBS and NPR campus stations, an 18-hole golf course with a new clubhouse/restaurant, tennis courts, swimming pool, and activity center.

New Mexico State University is an integral part of our community’s educational, cultural and economic fabric.

Doña Ana Community College

The essence of Doña Ana Community College is people. Committed to providing quality educational opportunities, the community college offers a supportive atmosphere emphasizing student success and the need for continued learning. Every effort is made to remove geographic, economic and cultural barriers to higher education. They offer instruction leading to occupational certificates and associate degrees, and preparation for further academic work.

Specifically, the mission of the community college is incorporated into the following six purposes –

• To provide students with vocational-technical education opportunities leading to economic independence in the community. They offer training for employment, retraining, and upgrading for occupational and career development.
• To provide developmental studies to help students develop self-confidence and perform successfully in their chosen academic or occupational fields of study.
• To provide occupational training for high school students under agreement with area independent school districts.
• To provide educational services under contract with local business, industry, and government in support of economic development.
• To provide free access to adult basic education programs for those who have not completed high school or who wish to improve their personal skills. They offer high school equivalency, English as a second language, functional literacy, and citizenship assistance.
• To provide community service and continuing education programs in response to the needs of the community. They offer short courses, workshops and seminars of an enrichment or occupational nature throughout the area.

A recent addition to DACC’s offerings are two 12-week Film Crew Training Courses through the Creative Media Institute for Film and Digital Arts. The courses were created in response to New Mexico’s growing film and electronic media industries and the governor’s film initiatives. Courses in screenwriting and acting for the camera are also being taught by Tony award-winning playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Mark Medoff.

Doña Ana Community College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The central campus of Doña Ana Community College is located on 11 acres adjacent to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Community college education is also offered at White Sands Education Center at White Sands Missile Range; the Gadsden Education Center in Anthony, New Mexico; the Sunland Park Education Center in Sunland Park, New Mexico; and the East Mesa Education Center east of Las Cruces.

The Educational Division offers associate degrees in the following fields –

• Adult Basic Education
• General Studies
• Technical Studies
• Health and Public Services
• Education
• Protective Services