Principal's Message
Welcome from the Principal
Welcome to The Rice School / La Escuela Rice, a Kindergarten through Eighth Grade STEM Magnet School where we are committed to providing every student with an exceptional educational experience. Our mission is to ensure that all students are college, career, and life ready by fostering academic excellence, critical thinking, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
As Principal, I am truly honored to serve this incredible school community. Every decision we make is centered on one question: What is best for our students? Our dedicated teachers and staff work tirelessly to create classrooms where students are challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential. We believe every child can achieve at high levels when provided with outstanding instruction, meaningful relationships, and a school culture built on high expectations, support, and care.
The Rice School has a proud tradition of excellence. We are honored to have earned a "B" rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) along with five distinction designations recognizing our success in Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps. These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the unwavering partnership of our families.
While we are proud of the progress we have made, we also recognize that we are not yet where we want to be. Our goal is clear—we are committed to achieving and sustaining an "A" rating because our students deserve nothing less than excellence. We believe continuous improvement is achieved through high expectations, strong instruction, meaningful relationships, and a shared commitment between our school and our families. Together, we will continue building a culture where every student is empowered to reach their fullest potential.
At The Rice School, we know that family engagement is one of the strongest predictors of student success. We encourage parents, grandparents, guardians, and caregivers to become active partners in their child's education by joining our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), serving as a Room Parent, participating in the Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program, and attending the many family events held throughout the school year. All volunteers must complete the online VIPS registration and annual background check for the 2026–2027 school year. Our front office staff will be happy to assist you with this process.
This Family Handbook has been designed to provide important information about our school procedures, expectations, and programs. We encourage every family to read it carefully and review it with your child. When schools and families work together with shared expectations, students thrive both academically and personally.
Thank you for choosing The Rice School / La Escuela Rice. We are excited to partner with you during the 2026–2027 school year as we continue building a culture of excellence where every student is encouraged to dream big, work hard, and discover their limitless potential.
On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, welcome to The Rice School family. We look forward to an outstanding school year together!
Alvaro Montelongo
Principal
The Rice School / La Escuela Rice