Las Cruces High School

Las Cruces High School is a public high school in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. LCHS was established in 1918 and is the oldest public high school in Las Cruces. As of the 2021-22 school year, it serves 1,830 students from grades 9–12.^[2] It is a part of Las Cruces Public Schools.

Las Cruces High School
Address
1755 El Paseo Road Las Cruces , New Mexico 88005 United States
Coordinates	32.2916°N 106.7680°W / 32.2916; -106.7680
Information
Funding type	Public
Founded	1918
School district	Las Cruces Public Schools
Principal	Brenda Ballard
Teaching staff	97.29 (FTE)[1]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1,806[1] (2023-2024)
Student to teacher ratio	18.56[1]
Language	English
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Red, Blue, and White
Athletics conference	NMAA, 6A Dist. 3
Team name	Bulldawgs
Communities served	south and west Las Cruces, Mesilla, Talaveras, Mesilla Park, University Park, Tortugas
Website	https://lchs.lcps.net/

History

The former Las Cruces High School is located at the corner of Alameda and Picacho Avenues near Downtown Las Cruces and Holy Cross Catholic Church. The current campus (opened in 1954) inherited the Bulldog mascot and school colors from the former school. After the opening of the current campus, the old LCHS building was joined to the Third Judicial District Court of Las Cruces.

LCHS "Bulldawg" emblem

Aerial view of the LCHS Building prior to renovations

E/F wing prior to renovation

The current campus has undergone numerous renovations and expansions since opening its doors in 1956. The vocational building was constructed in 1993, and D wing was built in 1997. The music wing was renovated between 1996 and 1998. The cafeteria was renovated in 2000. That same year, the Gym Lobby, a Chapel-like space inside LCHS, was also constructed. Beginning in the summer of 2013, the rest of the campus underwent renovation, with a proposed budget of $84 million USD. Every renovation of LCHS was finalized at the August 2019 Fall Assembly with the entire student body present.^[3] St. Genevieve is the patron saint of LCHS. The school used to display the church of St. Genevieve on the front page of the yearbook in the early 20th century.^{[citation needed]}

Rivalry

LCHS has a long-standing rivalry with Mayfield, the city's second-oldest public high school, with the annual football clash between the schools routinely attracting more than 20,000 fans. LCHS and MHS have combined to win 11 of the past 20 New Mexico state championships in football, with the annual year-end game between the schools almost invariably determining the district title. The Mayfield-Las Cruces high school football rivalry was voted the 9th best in the nation by rivals.com in 2008. The documentary film Cruces Divided is based on this rivalry.^[4]

Athletics

LCHS competes in the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), as a class 6A school in District 3. In 2014, NMAA realigned the state's schools in to six classifications and adjusted district boundaries.^[5] In addition to Las Cruces High School, the schools in District 3-6A include: Organ Mountain High School, Mayfield High School, Gadsden High School, Hobbs High School, and Carlsbad High School (New Mexico). From its opening until the opening of the Pan American Center, the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team played its home games at the LCHS gym, and the West first round games of the 1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament were held there, one of only two high school gymnasiums to host games of the tournament (the other being Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City).

LCHS participates in an annual cross-town football rivalry with Mayfield High

Inside the LCHS main gymnasium

LCHS athletic fields and campus

North Commons

State championships

State championships
Season	Sport	Number of Championships	Year
Fall	Boys cross country	1	1972
	Football	9 (8 official + 1 unofficial)	2013, 2012, 2008, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1975, 1959, 1925*†
	Marching band	3	1986, 1984, 1979
	Boys soccer	3	2013, 2007, 2004
	Girls soccer	2	2005, 2003
	Girls volleyball	5	2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1995
Winter	Boys basketball	9	2020, 2013, 1976, 1975, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1945*, 1941*
	Co-Ed cheerleading	5	2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012
	Girls swimming & diving	1	1983
	Wrestling	2	1966, 1964
Spring	Baseball	5	1963, 1962, 1961, 1957, 1952*
	Softball	1	2013
	Boys track and field	1	1962
	Boys tennis	2	1996, 1995
	Girls tennis	2	1997, 1996
Total		48

(*) Las Cruces Union High School

(†) Not officially recognized by NMAA, which does not recognize any state football titles before 1950.^[6]

Notable alumni

• Rich Beem, professional golfer, 2002 PGA Champion
• Joseph Benavidez, UFC flyweight fighter
• Sharon Douglas, actress
• Chuck Franco, First Gentleman of New Mexico since 2011
• Jerry Hinsley, former professional baseball player in Major League Baseball
• David Krummenacker, professional track athlete
• Taylor Lytle, professional soccer player in the National Women's Soccer League
• Benjamin Alire Sáenz, author
• Letticia Martinez, Paralympic swimmer
• Vendula Strnadová, professional soccer player

References

1. "Las Cruces High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
2. "Las Cruces High". Las Cruces High School.
3. "Cruces High construction $10M over budget". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
4. "Home". crucesdivided.com.
5. http://www.nmact.org/file/Section_4.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
6. "New Mexico State Football Champions" (PDF). New Mexico Activities Association.