Las Cruces Public Schools
Step 10 of 10
Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

76

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

New Mexico is a
"May" state

Learn more about state laws.

Lifewise Enrollment
Location Map LAS CRUCES, NM 88001 Doña Ana County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 23.2% (data source)
Non-White Students 83.9% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 2026
New Mexico State Law

School districts may create a policy allowing students to be released for religious study, or they may choose not to coordinate with released-time programs and require the students' legal guardians facilitate the process.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

22-12A-9. Medical appointments; illness; special situations; make-up work.

D. A student may, subject to the approval of the school principal, be absent from school to participate in religious instruction for not more than one class period per school day with the written consent of the student's parent at a time that is not in conflict with the academic program of the school. The public school shall provide time for the student to make up the school work missed during the absence. The school district or the public school shall not assume responsibility for the religious instruction of any student or permit religious instruction to be conducted on school property.

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (41)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Mayfield High 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Sendero Prep Charter High School 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
UNIVERSITY HILLS ELEMENTARY K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
ALAMEDA ELEMENTARY
ARROWHEAD PARK MEDICAL ACADEMY
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
CAMINO REAL MIDDLE
CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY
CESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY
COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY
CONLEE ELEMENTARY
DESERT HILLS ELEMENTARY
DONA ANA ELEMENTARY
EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
EAST PICACHO ELEMENTARY
FAIRACRES ELEMENTARY
HERMOSA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY
HILLRISE ELEMENTARY
JORNADA ELEMENTARY
Las Cruces High
LOMA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
LYNN MIDDLE
MAC ARTHUR ELEMENTARY
MESA MIDDLE
MESILLA ELEMENTARY
MESILLA PARK ELEMENTARY
MESILLA VALLEY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY
Organ Mountain High School
PICACHO MIDDLE
RIO GRANDE PREPARATORY INSTITUTE
SIERRA MIDDLE
SONOMA ELEMENTARY
SUNRISE ELEMENTARY
TOMBAUGH ELEMENTARY
VALLEY VIEW ELEMENTARY
VISTA MIDDLE
WHITE SANDS ELEMENTARY
ZIA MIDDLE
38 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
76
November 30, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
76
July 23, 2025
Step 8
Train Your Team
71
May 9, 2025
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
71
April 10, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
71
January 4, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
59
December 13, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
59
October 22, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
54
August 13, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
53
July 26, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
52
July 1, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
51
June 20, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
47
June 15, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
47
May 15, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
33
May 11, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
24
May 8, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
May 5, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
3
May 1, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
April 26, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
 
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No enrollment information
School/district enrollment numbers from https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
Lifewise enrollment numbers come from social media, newsletters, press, and public record requests. Contact RPS with enrollment numbers.
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