Las Montañas

Charter High School

A Different Kind of Education

Welcome to Las Montañas Charter High School

LMCHS is a public charter school serving the students in the greater Las Cruces area and Dona Ana County. For more information please give us a call 575-527-5916.

The mission of Las Montañas Charter High School is to develop the academic potential and personal character of each student by engaging and valuing the student, family and community partnership. Students will work to prepare for and meet the challenges of a post-secondary or workforce environment for a globally diverse society.

Congratulations 2025 Las Montañas Graduating Class!

We’re so proud of each and every one of our students. We wish you all the best in your journey, and we know you will succeed!

Discover your
Pathway to Success

Over the years, Las Montañas has evolved to meet the needs of its students beyond just academics. Our innovative approach to a Career and Technical Education curriculum is designed to provide students with essential life and work skills. Students are encouraged to explore different career pathways, develop strong pre-employment skills, form habits to transition into the workforce and prepare for life beyond the classroom through meaningful and reflective work experiences.

At the end of their time with us, students will have gained both academic and work experience with our community partners who introduce them to the workforce so they may envision a clear path to success for life after graduation.

What is a Pathway?

Pathways refer to different academic or career-focused tracks that students can choose to pursue based on their interests, goals, and abilities. These pathways are designed to provide students with a more tailored and focused education, allowing them to explore specific subjects or career fields in greater depth.

Las Montañas Charter High School offers five different pathways.

Student News, Calendar,
& Resources

Governance Council

Professional, Approachable,
& Caring

Contact Us

1405 S. Solano Dr.
Las Cruces, NM 88001

(575) 527-5916
info@lasmontanashigh.com

Compulsory Student Attendance Policy

I. PURPOSE
- To establish responsibility for recording and excusing student absences and to outline procedures for monitoring and improving
  attendance and for follow-up with students and parents in accordance with requirements set forth in 22-8-2 (NMSA 1978).
II. DEFINITIONS
- A. “Attendance” means students who are in class or in a school-approved activity. If a student is in attendance up to one half of the total instructional time during a school day, the student will be counted as having attended one-half of a school day. If the student attends school for more than one-half of the total instructional time, the student will be counted as having attended for the full day (6-10-8-7 NMSA 1978)
- B. “Hazardous weather conditions” means weather conditions that would endanger the health or safety of the student when in transit to and from school, as defined and/or approved by the Superintendent of the charter school or his/her designee. C. “Immediate family members” means the child, spouse, father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, grandparents, mother-in-law, father-in-law, foster parents, guardians, and others who reside in the same household with the student.
- D. “Long-term illness” means acute or chronic health-related problems that require a student to be out of school more than three consecutive days, as verified by a health-care professional’s written note to the student’s school. E. “Recurring illness” means any medical or mental conditions that requires a student to see a health care professional on a recurring basis with standing appointments; and, that such appointments occur at least once per month. F. “Short-term illness” means any medical or mental conditions that keep a student out of school for three or fewer consecutive days, as verified by the parent.
- G. “School sponsored/school sanctioned activities” Means:
  - 1. Events or activities sponsored or held by school clubs, athletics, extracurricular or curricular classes.
  - 2. School coordinated visits to college/university campuses on officially designated visitation days or on alternate visits when the student has applied for admission to that particular college/university.
  - 3. Days in which a student is suspended, short-term, from school.
- H. “Work” means employment in a gainful trade or occupation or engagement in an alternative form of education to which the parent/guardian consents, and which is approved by the Superintendent of the charter school or his/her designee.
III. PROCEDURES: RECORDINGS ABSENCES
- A. Each classroom teacher shall be responsible for taking daily student attendance.
IV. PROCESS AND CONTENT
- A. Student absences shall be considered excused if they fall within the following reasons and students provide verification.
  - 1. Short and long-term mental and physical illnesses.
  - 2. Recurring illnesses.
  - 3. Observance of religious holidays.
  - 4. Bereavement.
  - 5. As required by law, disciplinary actions or short-term suspensions.
  - 6. Required court proceedings.
  - 7. School-sponsored/school-sanctioned activities, including school sports participation, field trips and academic competitions.
  - 8. Hazardous weather conditions.
  - 9. Work approved or sponsored by the school (i.e., service learning, EXCEL activity).
  - 10. When a student is not physically in the classroom but remains under the direct supervision of the school district, the absence(s) shall be documented as excused and are not counted as part of the 90 percent attendance calculation. School-sponsored/school sanctioned absences include, but are not limited to:
    - a. Standardized testing.
    - b. School sports participation.
    - c. Field trips and academic competitions.
    - d. Health center, nurse, counseling/guidance and administrative office visits.
    - e. Principal-approved student government and/or student council activities.
- B. All excused absences for illness shall be verified by a parent or other adult who is legally responsible for the care of the student or by the school authority responsible for the absence. Verification shall be provided to the school within four (4) school days of the absence. If verification of the absence is not presented within four (4) school days, the
  absence shall be coded as unexcused.
  - 1. Long-term illness shall be verified in writing by a community health-care professional (doctor, dentist, optometrist, mental health counselor etc.) or school nurse.
  - 2. Recurring illness shall be verified in writing by a community health-care professional (doctor, dentist, mental health counselor, etc.) that the absence is recurring and necessary.
  - 3. Short-term illness shall be verified in writing by a parent, community health-care professional (doctor, dentist, mental health counselor, etc.) or school nurse.
- C. It shall be the responsibility of the student to make up any and all schoolwork he/she missed due to absence, regardless of the reason for the absence.
  - 1. When absence is excused, the teacher shall provide the student with resources in order to learn the material missed during the absence(s).
V. MONITORING ATTENDANCE.
- A. Student absences shall be reported to the student’s parents/guardians on the student’s quarterly report card.
- B. LMCHS and outside agencies, shall develop and implement a continuum of interventions designed to support regular school attendance.
- C. High Schools:
  - 1. In order for a student to receive credit for a class, he/she must be in attendance for a minimum of ninety (90) percent of the days the class is offered or has received approval of an appeal for credit.
  - 2. High school students with excessive absences and/or tardies, both excused and unexcused, may be referred for appropriate intervention. At the discretion of the school principal/designee, students who have been absent for fifteen (15) days may be referred to appropriate school staff and/or outside agencies for intensive interventions designed to increased regular attendance. (LMCHS )
  - 3. A student and the student’s parent/guardian shall be provided verbal and written notice from the school at such time as a student’s attendance in any class drops below ninety (90) percent of the days the class is offered during any grading period.
    - a. Phone call procedures. When a student has reached their third (3rd), seventh (7th)
      and tenth (10th) absence, a designated person from LMCHS will contact the parent or
      guardian of the student and inform them of the absences.
    - b. Written procedure: When a student has reached fifteen (15) absences, the school will send written notification to the student’s parents or guardians that the student has reached fifteen (15) absences. The written parent notification shall indicate the need to schedule a parent/teacher conference to discuss available interventions that address the student’s attendance patterns and academic progress.
      - i. It shall be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the school to
        schedule such a conference.
      - ii. A translator shall be made available during the conference if requested by the
        parent/guardian.
- F. HIGH SCHOOL APPEALS:
  - 1. Students who violate the ninety (90) percent attendance requirement (7 unexcused absences per semester) will be given a No Credit “NC” and will be required to successfully complete the terms of an attendance contract in order for the NC to be removed from their record. The contract will serve to assist students that have lost credit due to not meeting the attendance policy for a semester and will serve as the appeal and contract for credit. The minimum attendance requirement does not impact the acceptance of credit awarded through alternative means, such as online courses.
  - 2. Approved absences that are coded as “excused” shall not be included when calculating whether a student has failed to meet the ninety (90) percent attendance requirement.
VI. REPORTING (NMAC 6-10-8)
- A. The school shall maintain class attendance records by class period for every instructional day for each student in each school or school program in the school district or charter school in a manner verifiable by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED).

Compulsory Student Attendance Policy

I. PURPOSE
- To establish responsibility for recording and excusing student absences and to outline procedures for monitoring and improving
  attendance and for follow-up with students and parents in accordance with requirements set forth in 22-8-2 (NMSA 1978).
II. DEFINITIONS
- A. “Attendance” means students who are in class or in a school-approved activity. If a student is in attendance up to one half of the total instructional time during a school day, the student will be counted as having attended one-half of a school day. If the student attends school for more than one-half of the total instructional time, the student will be counted as having attended for the full day (6-10-8-7 NMSA 1978)
- B. “Hazardous weather conditions” means weather conditions that would endanger the health or safety of the student when in transit to and from school, as defined and/or approved by the Superintendent of the charter school or his/her designee. C. “Immediate family members” means the child, spouse, father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, grandparents, mother-in-law, father-in-law, foster parents, guardians, and others who reside in the same household with the student.
- D. “Long-term illness” means acute or chronic health-related problems that require a student to be out of school more than three consecutive days, as verified by a health-care professional’s written note to the student’s school. E. “Recurring illness” means any medical or mental conditions that requires a student to see a health care professional on a recurring basis with standing appointments; and, that such appointments occur at least once per month. F. “Short-term illness” means any medical or mental conditions that keep a student out of school for three or fewer consecutive days, as verified by the parent.
- G. “School sponsored/school sanctioned activities” Means:
  - 1. Events or activities sponsored or held by school clubs, athletics, extracurricular or curricular classes.
  - 2. School coordinated visits to college/university campuses on officially designated visitation days or on alternate visits when the student has applied for admission to that particular college/university.
  - 3. Days in which a student is suspended, short-term, from school.
- H. “Work” means employment in a gainful trade or occupation or engagement in an alternative form of education to which the parent/guardian consents, and which is approved by the Superintendent of the charter school or his/her designee.
III. PROCEDURES: RECORDINGS ABSENCES
- A. Each classroom teacher shall be responsible for taking daily student attendance.
IV. PROCESS AND CONTENT
- A. Student absences shall be considered excused if they fall within the following reasons and students provide verification.
  - 1. Short and long-term mental and physical illnesses.
  - 2. Recurring illnesses.
  - 3. Observance of religious holidays.
  - 4. Bereavement.
  - 5. As required by law, disciplinary actions or short-term suspensions.
  - 6. Required court proceedings.
  - 7. School-sponsored/school-sanctioned activities, including school sports participation, field trips and academic competitions.
  - 8. Hazardous weather conditions.
  - 9. Work approved or sponsored by the school (i.e., service learning, EXCEL activity).
  - 10. When a student is not physically in the classroom but remains under the direct supervision of the school district, the absence(s) shall be documented as excused and are not counted as part of the 90 percent attendance calculation. School-sponsored/school sanctioned absences include, but are not limited to:
    - a. Standardized testing.
    - b. School sports participation.
    - c. Field trips and academic competitions.
    - d. Health center, nurse, counseling/guidance and administrative office visits.
    - e. Principal-approved student government and/or student council activities.
- B. All excused absences for illness shall be verified by a parent or other adult who is legally responsible for the care of the student or by the school authority responsible for the absence. Verification shall be provided to the school within four (4) school days of the absence. If verification of the absence is not presented within four (4) school days, the
  absence shall be coded as unexcused.
  - 1. Long-term illness shall be verified in writing by a community health-care professional (doctor, dentist, optometrist, mental health counselor etc.) or school nurse.
  - 2. Recurring illness shall be verified in writing by a community health-care professional (doctor, dentist, mental health counselor, etc.) that the absence is recurring and necessary.
  - 3. Short-term illness shall be verified in writing by a parent, community health-care professional (doctor, dentist, mental health counselor, etc.) or school nurse.
- C. It shall be the responsibility of the student to make up any and all schoolwork he/she missed due to absence, regardless of the reason for the absence.
  - 1. When absence is excused, the teacher shall provide the student with resources in order to learn the material missed during the absence(s).
V. MONITORING ATTENDANCE.
- A. Student absences shall be reported to the student’s parents/guardians on the student’s quarterly report card.
- B. LMCHS and outside agencies, shall develop and implement a continuum of interventions designed to support regular school attendance.
- C. High Schools:
  - 1. In order for a student to receive credit for a class, he/she must be in attendance for a minimum of ninety (90) percent of the days the class is offered or has received approval of an appeal for credit.
  - 2. High school students with excessive absences and/or tardies, both excused and unexcused, may be referred for appropriate intervention. At the discretion of the school principal/designee, students who have been absent for fifteen (15) days may be referred to appropriate school staff and/or outside agencies for intensive interventions designed to increased regular attendance. (LMCHS )
  - 3. A student and the student’s parent/guardian shall be provided verbal and written notice from the school at such time as a student’s attendance in any class drops below ninety (90) percent of the days the class is offered during any grading period.
    - a. Phone call procedures. When a student has reached their third (3rd), seventh (7th)
      and tenth (10th) absence, a designated person from LMCHS will contact the parent or
      guardian of the student and inform them of the absences.
    - b. Written procedure: When a student has reached fifteen (15) absences, the school will send written notification to the student’s parents or guardians that the student has reached fifteen (15) absences. The written parent notification shall indicate the need to schedule a parent/teacher conference to discuss available interventions that address the student’s attendance patterns and academic progress.
      - i. It shall be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the school to
        schedule such a conference.
      - ii. A translator shall be made available during the conference if requested by the
        parent/guardian.
- F. HIGH SCHOOL APPEALS:
  - 1. Students who violate the ninety (90) percent attendance requirement (7 unexcused absences per semester) will be given a No Credit “NC” and will be required to successfully complete the terms of an attendance contract in order for the NC to be removed from their record. The contract will serve to assist students that have lost credit due to not meeting the attendance policy for a semester and will serve as the appeal and contract for credit. The minimum attendance requirement does not impact the acceptance of credit awarded through alternative means, such as online courses.
  - 2. Approved absences that are coded as “excused” shall not be included when calculating whether a student has failed to meet the ninety (90) percent attendance requirement.
VI. REPORTING (NMAC 6-10-8)
- A. The school shall maintain class attendance records by class period for every instructional day for each student in each school or school program in the school district or charter school in a manner verifiable by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED).

Charter High School

A Different Kind of Education

Welcome to Las Montañas Charter High School

Congratulations 2025 Las Montañas Graduating Class!

Discover your Pathway to Success

What is a Pathway?

Student News, Calendar, & Resources

Governance Council

Professional, Approachable, & Caring

Resources

Contact Us

1405 S. Solano Dr. Las Cruces, NM 88001

(575) 527-5916 info@lasmontanashigh.com

Attention Students and Parents:

Las Montañas Students and Families,

Click below to view and download this month's menus

Latest Past Events

Parent Notification

(in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, Title I, Part A, Section III and New Mexico Public School Code 22-10A-16)Parents' Right to Know

Graduation Course Requirements

Current Open Scholarships:

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes (2021) by Foot Locker Foundation

Current Open Scholarships:

GoTranscript Academic Scholarship Program

Leads Roster and Publicity.ai SEO & Content Marketing Scholarship

Daniels Scholarship Program

Education Loan Finance (ELFI)

Free Scholarship Search Engines

Compulsory Student Attendance Policy

Attention Parents and Students

Parent Notification

(in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, Title I, Part A, Section III and New Mexico Public School Code 22-10A-16)Parents' Right to Know

Graduation Course Requirements

Current Open Scholarships:

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes (2021) by Foot Locker Foundation

Current Open Scholarships:

GoTranscript Academic Scholarship Program

Leads Roster and Publicity.ai SEO & Content Marketing Scholarship

Daniels Scholarship Program

Free Scholarship Search Engines

Current Open Scholarships:

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes (2021) by Foot Locker Foundation

Current Open Scholarships:

GoTranscript Academic Scholarship Program

Leads Roster and Publicity.ai SEO & Content Marketing Scholarship

Daniels Scholarship Program

Education Loan Finance (ELFI)

Free Scholarship Search Engines

Graduation of the Class of 2021

Compulsory Student Attendance Policy

Discover your
Pathway to Success

Student News, Calendar,
& Resources

Professional, Approachable,
& Caring

1405 S. Solano Dr.
Las Cruces, NM 88001

(575) 527-5916
info@lasmontanashigh.com

(in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, Title I, Part A, Section III and New Mexico Public School Code 22-10A-16)
Parents' Right to Know

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes (2021)
by Foot Locker Foundation

(in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, Title I, Part A, Section III and New Mexico Public School Code 22-10A-16)
Parents' Right to Know

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes (2021)
by Foot Locker Foundation

Foot Locker Scholar Athletes (2021)
by Foot Locker Foundation