Trade school ‘RioTECH' opens in Rio Rancho
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) –It's a new school opening up in the metro area, promising to make more students into top-tier welders, carpenters, and other trade professionals. It's an effort to boost New Mexico's future workforce; the new career technical education high school called RioTECH is promising to give teens skills in trade fields such as carpentry, plumbing, welding, and even cybersecurity.
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'Today not only marks a celebration in progress in partnership but a powerful step forward for our community, students, and the future of education and workforce development here in New Mexico,' said Dr. Kristopher Johnson, Principal at RioTECH.
The $55 million school in Rio Rancho has been in the works since 2017, a partnership with Central New Mexico Community College. Some teaching is already happening there, but by fall, 150 high school students will take part in regular courses taught by CNM instructors. They'll also enroll more than 100 adult trade students.
'As they graduate, they're going to have to learn to work with all different walks of life and people from everywhere, so it's important to start them now and working with the industry that they're going into,' said Johnson.
Saying that 93% of businesses in New Mexico are Career Technical Education-related, the Rio Rancho Chamber said the school fills a big need in the state's workforce.
'Right now, what we have is a shortage of our workforce, we have an aging workforce. This allows these students to gain those skills that are necessary to move forward,' said Jerry Schalow, President and CEO of Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce.
'It's more interactive and you're actually doing the stuff hands-on,' said Josiah Lopez, future RioTECH student.
'This place will be better because it has more resources for me to utilize and there's more people that can help me out to achieve my goals,' said Jasmine Lamb, future RioTECH student.
RioTECH is expected to finish construction and be fully open by the fall. They're already making a waiting list, and more information can be found on their website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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