Rio Grande is a preK-5th grade school located in the Northern section of Vigo County in Terre Haute, IN. Rio Grande is located at 5555 E. Rio Grande Ave. The school sits on over thirty-two acres of land, which includes a half-mile paved fitness track developed for students as well as a Nature Center that is utilized for science projects. 

Students are bused from communities surrounding the school, including Rosedale, Sandcut, and Fontanet, Indiana. The school community includes rural and suburban residents. Rio Grande opened as an Open Concept school in 1972. The renovations in 2001 changed the school to self-contained classrooms with walls. Three new classrooms and a gymnasium were added in 2003 to accommodate special education needs and the current enrollment which hovers around 450 students. In 2011 our second computer lab was added to accommodate state mandated testing. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year the Vigo County School Corporation began equipping students with Chromebooks. Currently our students in grades 2-5 have received, and are using, their Chromebooks on a daily basis both in, and out, of the classroom. 

Our dedicated PTO has gifted our classrooms with iPads, Apple TV’s, document cameras, and projectors to enhance student learning and classroom lessons. PTO also added a mounted projector, large screen, and sound system in order to make the “Little Theater” a true theater. In addition to technology, our PTO has fenced in our very large playground, provided all of the play equipment that is currently available, and paved our quarter mile walking trail. In 2019, PTO provided the funds to purchase a sensory path that is available to our students to increase strength, coordination, and balance. 

Rio Grande utilizes local and national grant opportunities through organizations such as the Vigo County Education Foundation and Texas Gas. One of the projects was to equip a sensory room for students who need to experience sensory input. Some of the other grants include funding for Bagels, Binders, and Bites, Book Bags, and Classroom Sensory Boxes. 

The school staff has been committed to student learning through the years. The thirty-five full time staff members include; one administrator, twenty-six classroom teachers, three special education resource specialists, two licensed functional teachers, a Media Specialist, a music teacher, a physical education teacher, a licensed preschool teacher, and a full-time counselor. Additional staff includes sixteen Educational Assistants, and an ESL assistant. Rio Grande is also blessed with a full time School Protection Officer and a Behavioral Interventionist. 

Rio Grande was recognized as a Four Star School in 2001 and 2002. In 2004, the United States Secretary of Education recognized Rio Grande as a NCLB Blue Ribbon School. Parents and community leaders are active participants at Rio Grande. The school utilizes the services of Indiana State University students, as well as students from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Our Rio Grande community values education and has high expectations for all students. Students from Rio Grande matriculate to Otter Creek Middle School and continue on to Terre Haute North High School.