Principal’s Message
Dear Rancho Del Rey Families,
On behalf of our entire staff, it is my pleasure to welcome you to another exciting year at Rancho Del Rey Middle School!
As I begin my second year as principal at RDM, I want to thank our returning families for the trust, partnerships, and support you showed throughout my first year. It has been an incredible privilege to serve this community and get to know our students, families, and staff. I continue to be inspired by the kindness, resilience, and school pride that make Rancho Del Rey such a special place.
For our new families, Welcome! We are thrilled to have you join the Rancho Del Rey community. We know that starting at a new school can bring both excitement and uncertainty, and we are committed to making the transition a positive one. I look forward to getting to know your family and working together to help your child feel a sense of belonging, build meaningful relationships, and achieve success both in and out of the classroom.
Looking back on last year, I am proud of what we accomplished together. Through the collective efforts of our students, families, teachers, and staff, we reduced suspensions, lowered chronic absenteeism, and decreased D/F rates. Another significant accomplishment was reestablishing our Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO), which had not been active since 2018. Its return has strengthened the partnership between our school and families and created new opportunities to enrich the student experience. These accomplishments represent much more than numbers. They reflect students spending more time learning, building stronger relationships, and finding greater success both academically and personally.
While we celebrate these achievements, we know our work is far from complete. Every child deserves to feel welcomed, safe, challenged, and supported every day they walk onto our campus.
This year, we continue to be guided by our Rancho Del Rey vision:
Our vision is to be a leading school of choice, providing an inclusive and supportive environment where every student feels valued and inspired. Through meaningful learning experiences, we empower students to become resilient, kind, lifelong learners who think critically, face the challenges of tomorrow with confidence, and serve as positive, responsible members of their communities.
This vision is brought to life through the relationships we build with students every day. We will continue strengthening our instructional practices, expanding student leadership opportunities, celebrating student success through KORTV and ASB activities, using student voice to guide our decisions, and providing timely academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support through our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). We remain committed to ensuring that every student knows they belong and has at least one caring adult they can turn to at school.
I am grateful to continue working alongside our outstanding administrative team, Assistant Principals Jennifer Marquez and Susano Carrasco, whose dedication and leadership help make Rancho Del Rey a place where students can thrive. We are also excited to welcome Rebecca Saucedo, who joins returning school psychologist Melanie Armour in supporting the academic, social, and emotional success of our students.
As your principal, my commitment remains the same. I will lead with integrity, collaboration, transparency, and a student-centered focus. I will continue to be visible on campus, listen to families and students, celebrate successes, and work collaboratively to ensure Rancho Del Rey continues to grow as a school where every student feels connected, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Thank you for entrusting us with your children each day. We are honored to partner with you, and we look forward to another outstanding year of learning, growth, and success.
Respectfully,
Mark Patterson
Principal, Rancho Del Rey Middle School
(619) 397-2515
Email:
Instagram: Mark A Patterson (@pattersonsuhsd) • Instagram photos and videos
LINK: INCOMING PARENT ORIENTATION MEETING_7.15.2026