Rio Bravo-Greeley Middle Earns Prestigious Schools to Watch Recognition

For more than a century, the Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District (RBG) has served students on the rural outskirts of Bakersfield. What began in 1891 as a single-room shack with just sixteen students has evolved into a thriving district known for strong academics, deep community roots, and a culture where every student feels they belong.

Today, that commitment is earning statewide recognition. Most recently, Rio Bravo-Greeley Middle School was named a California Middle School Schools to Watch, one of the most respected honors for middle schools nationwide. For district leaders and staff, the award is a result of years of hard work focused on students.

“To see the benefit of all the hard work has been the biggest blessing,” said middle school Principal Christina Bussman, who has spent more than three decades in the district.

The district’s story mirrors the history of the surrounding region. The original Rio Bravo School District opened in 1891. By 1921, a two-story brick schoolhouse served as both a classroom and the heart of community life, hosting weddings, dances, fairs, and plays.

Over time, neighboring districts merged as the region evolved. In 1939, Rio Bravo joined with the nearby Munzer School District, and then, in 1971, Rio Bravo merged with the Greeley School District, forming the present-day Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District.

Today, RBG serves students across two campuses: the elementary school (grades TK–4) and the middle school (grades 5–8), affectionately called the little school and the big school. Despite being a small district, the school community has grown significantly over the years while maintaining the close-knit culture of a much smaller school.

At the middle school, a strong focus on character development and school culture has helped improve attendance, reduce suspensions, and boost academic outcomes.

A key part of that effort is “The Gaucho Way,” a campus-wide recognition program that rewards students for demonstrating positive behaviors like responsibility, respect, and kindness. Students earn Gaucho tickets that can be redeemed at the popular Gaucho Store, and each quarter, classrooms compete in Gaucho Games.

“The kids absolutely love it,” Bussman said. “They’re always asking, ‘When is the Gaucho Store? When are Gaucho Games?’”

The program encourages students to support one another and show kindness.

“If a new student comes in, the kids just embrace them,” Bussman said. “If they see someone sitting alone, they’ll go sit with them. That feeling of belonging, that’s really important.”

The district’s emphasis on improving school climate and academics has shown up in the data. In addition to the recent California Schools to Watch award, RBG Middle has earned multiple recognitions over the past few years, including California Distinguished Schools, the California Resources Corporation Middle School of the Year award, and was named a California Honor Roll School twice.

“It’s a really fantastic feeling to see the proof that this is working, it is being translated into the success of our students,” said Superintendent Jennifer Hedge.

To earn the Schools to Watch designation, the school underwent an extensive application and review process that included data analysis, written reports, and on-site visits from reviewers.

“It took a lot of hours, and we submitted it and crossed our fingers,” Bussman said. “They told us that our school was amazing, and they had never seen such a great school climate. It was really an exciting day.”

Hedge, who is now in her tenth year leading the district, said the recognition reflects a deliberate focus on using data to guide improvement.

“We’re very intentional,” Hedge said. “Instead of bringing in 15 new initiatives, we focus on three to five things and do them really well.”

Those efforts have helped drive steady improvement in student achievement across the district.

“Our eighth graders were among the highest achieving in the county on the state assessments last year,” Hedge said. “Our English learner redesignation rates are high, and we’ve reduced suspensions and chronic absenteeism.”

At the elementary campus, strong foundations in literacy and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) are helping students arrive at middle school prepared to succeed.

Principal Amy Palmer, who joined the district in early 2020, stepped into leadership just weeks before schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was just starting to learn names, and then we shut down,” Palmer said.

Despite several hurdles, including technical issues, transportation challenges, and extremely limited WiFi access during distance learning, teachers worked tirelessly to maintain instruction and minimize learning loss.

“We put buses out with hot spots on them and parked them in certain locations, because some areas were dead zones. It was extremely difficult,” Palmer said. “But we were able to maintain our trajectory and bounce back faster than some of our neighboring districts, and I think that’s due to our teachers.”

In the years since, the school has focused heavily on evidence-based curriculum to close pandemic gaps.

“We’re now seeing those gaps finally start to close,” said Vice Principal Kristina Bauer. “Our reading and writing data show we’re on a really strong path.”

The school also emphasizes Character Strong, an SEL curriculum to support the “whole child.” Each morning begins with a soft start, where teachers greet students at the door and allow time for calming activities before academics begin.

“For kids who might have had a stressful morning, it helps them settle in and feel ready to learn,” Bauer said.

Programs like Excellent Eagle Awards, Fun Fridays, and character lessons help make school both engaging and supportive.

“We want our kids to feel safe, happy, and proud of what they’re learning,” Palmer said.

Even with its relatively small enrollment, RBG offers students a wide range of opportunities outside of the classroom, including robust performing arts and music programs, an award-winning robotics team, Project Lead the Way engineering classes, academic clubs, and athletics, with a special focus on cross country.

Last year, the robotics program advanced to the World Championships in Dallas, a first for the district.

“For one of our students, it was their first time ever on a plane,” Bussman said. “Just seeing that experience was incredible.”

Athletics continue to expand as well. Soccer was added this year after students repeatedly requested it in surveys. The girls’ team finished the season undefeated.

RBG also offers some experiences rarely found at most middle schools. The district maintains its own swimming pool, where students can swim during physical education and special events.

While tradition remains strong, district leaders are focused on preparing for the future, including a pool modernization project, transitioning to an electric bus fleet, and facility improvements.

One of the district’s greatest strengths may be its stability. Staff turnover is low, and many employees have long histories with the schools. Over more than 30 years with the district, Bussman has worked in nearly every role, including teacher, reading coordinator, vice principal, and now principal. She says she can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else.

“That bond that we create here… they like to come here and stay,” Bussman said. “It’s that sense of belonging, you come here, you belong here, you’re one of us now. I think that’s just the tradition of RBG.”