Las Cruces Public Schools
Going Above and Beyond for Every Student, Every Day
District Overview
Vision Statement
Where all learners thrive.
Donde todos los estudiantes prosperan.
Mission Statement
The Las Cruces Public Schools provides a safe, caring, equitable, and student-centered learning environment that cultivates civic and community engagement, promotes excellence, and honors diversity.
Las Escuelas Públicas de Las Cruces brindan un ambiente de aprendizaje seguro, atento, equitativo y centrado en el estudiante que cultiva un compromiso cívico y comunitario, promueve la excelencia y respet la diversidad.
Core Values
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Be accountable for every child.
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Foster growth and innovation, grounded in research and evidence.
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Guide all decisions through the lens of equity, sustainability, and respect.
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Commit to the inclusion and success of every student.
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Maintain a safe, healthy, and caring environment.
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Cultivate and maintain partnerships with parents, students, staff, and community members.
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Embrace the power of collaboration.
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Ser responsable de cada niño.
Fomentar el crecimiento y la innovación, basados en la investigación y la evidencia.
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Orientar todas las decisiones a través del prisma de la equidad, la sostenibilidad y el respeto.
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Comprometerse con la inclusión y el éxito de cada estudiante.
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Mantener un ambiente seguro, saludable y atento.
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Cultivar y mantener asociaciones con los padres, los estudiantes, el
personal y los miembros de la comunidad.
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Aprovechar el poder de la colaboración
About LCPS
Las Cruces Public Schools is located 45 miles north of the US-Mexico border in Las Cruces, New Mexico. With approximately 23,000 students and 3,200 employees, LCPS is the second largest school district in New Mexico.
LCPS serves a diverse population of approximately 91,000 people throughout the City of Las Cruces, the Town of Mesilla, the Village of Doña Ana, and White Sands Missile Range, and the middle third of Doña Ana County. The city’s largest employers include: New Mexico State University, White Sands Missile Range, Las Cruces Public Schools, and the City of Las Cruces.
The district has 40 schools: 24 elementary schools (pre-kindergarten-5th); one combined elementary and middle school (K-8th); eight middle schools (6th-8th); and seven high schools (9th-12th). Two of the seven high schools are early college high schools and are located on the campus of New Mexico State University. LCPS also has a Virtual Learning Academy, serving elementary through high school students.
Ignacio Ruiz, Superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools
Ignacio Ruiz is the Superintendent of Las Cruces Public Schools, the second largest district in New Mexico. Previously he was an Assistant Superintendent in Clark County School District in Nevada, the fifth largest school district in the country.
Prior to that, he was the Director of the Language Acquisition Department in Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona. He holds a Master's degree with distinction from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership. Ruiz earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Prescott College.
He has held several leadership positions including assistant principal, principal, and director. He is a graduate of the ALAS (Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents) National Superintendent Academy and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown.
He has worked closely with faculty members, staff, and community stakeholders to drive innovation into education systems. He has dedicated his career to advancing the field of education.
Through research and teaching, he has sought to promote best practices in educational leadership and ensure that educators are supported in providing high-quality instruction equitably to their students. He has also focused on enhancing wrap-around support for all families in the communities he has served.
Ruiz was also the founding president of the Nevada Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, creating a pipeline of diverse leaders for schools in Southern Nevada.
Mr. Ruiz is bilingual/biliterate in English and Spanish and is an advocate in providing equitable learning experiences for all students.
Ignacio Ruiz is originally from Tucson, Arizona. He has worked in education for more than 30 years as a teacher, principal and administrator.
He was named Superintendent in July 2023.