A depressed economy hasn’t stymied enrollment in Rio Rancho Public Schools.

The district’s student population increased by 3.7 percent to 16,783, according to preliminary 40th-day enrollment figures.

Not counting student growth at Shining Stars Pre-School and Sandia Vista Montessori pre-K, the district’s student growth increased by 3.3 percent. The district doesn’t receive funding through the State Equalization Guarantee for students at those two schools. The SEG funds 16,547 students.

The district’s enrollment grew by 2.4 percent in 2008 and 5.7 percent in 2007.

Because of boundary changes and the addition of Cleveland High School, 2009 growth comparisons with 2008 are only valid for elementary schools.

Cielo Azul saw the largest jump –17 percent—increasing from 709 students to 830.

Maggie M. Cordova’s pupil population increased by 12.4 percent, from 856 to 962 while Sandia Vista, Enchanted Hills, Ernest Stapleton and Puesta del Sol elementaries also saw student growth.

Meanwhile, Martin Luther King Jr., Rio Rancho, Colinas del Norte and Vista Grande elementaries all lost students.

Maggie M. Cordova Elementary, 962 (856)

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, 881 (885)

Ernest Stapleton Elementary, 871 (836)

Puesta del Sol Elementary, 835 (824)

Cielo Azul Elementary, 830 (709)

Rio Rancho Elementary, 742 (763)

Colinas del Norte Elementary, 723 (753)

Vista Grande Elementary, 687 (733)

Enchanted Hills Elementary, 673 (629)

Sandia Vista Elementary, 438 (408)

Rio Rancho Middle School, 1,230 (0)#

Lincoln Middle School, 902 (884)

Mountain View Middle School, 841 (885)

Eagle Ridge Middle School, 823 (677)

Rio Rancho High School, 2,788 (3,172)##

V. Sue Cleveland High School, 1,634 (0)##

Independence High School, 249 (221)

Cyber Academy, 184 (145)

Shining Stars Pre School, 204 (188)

Sandia Vista Montessori, 50 (0)###

#-RRPS realigned the boundaries for middle schools this year and placed ninth grade into the high schools. Rio Rancho Middle School is in the old Rio Rancho Mid-High building, which educated eighth and ninth graders. The Mid-High’s student population was 2,448 in 2008-2009. Rio Rancho Middle School did not exist in 2008-2009.

##-RRPS opened Cleveland High School this year. Students in grades 10-12 attended Rio Rancho High School last year.

###-Sandia Vista Montessori School opened this year.