Rancho Cotate Grows an Engaged Student Community Together with Minga
Rancho Cotate grows alongside Minga’s evolving tools for campus management and student engagement, in a partnership marked by mutual growth.
About Rancho Cotate High School
Students
1,700+
Grades
9-12
The Challenge
Overcoming Disorganization and Strengthening Student Engagement
Rancho Cotate faced several challenges that disrupted student management and engagement. Cyberbullying was a growing concern, and without a centralized platform to manage student groups and communication, it was difficult to foster a strong sense of community. Athletes also struggled to connect with their coaches, and the recruitment process lacked organization, further complicating their experience.
Additionally, the school’s hall pass system was inconsistent, with varying rules across classrooms. This led to students wandering unsupervised or gathering in bathrooms for inappropriate activities. With no clear way to track student movements or ensure accountability, maintaining order became a struggle. Recognizing these challenges, Rancho Cotate adopted Minga’s beta version, starting a long-term partnership where both the school and Minga would grow together.
KEY PROBLEM AREAS:
“
We had a lot of cyber-bullying and I was concerned about that. And having an in-house, social media channel really stood out to me. I also liked the idea of groups and clubs having their own area — we weren’t managing them before, each team or each club would just have their own group and we were using standard social media. It was a hodgepodge. There was no central location for any of it.”
The Solution
Improving Hallways and Event Operations
Rancho Cotate High School uses Minga daily to streamline operations and improve accountability. The digital hall pass system allows teachers to set time limits, track student movements, and limit the number of passes used, reducing unnecessary wandering and ensuring better supervision. The ‘No Party Groups’ feature further prevents unsupervised gatherings by flagging students who shouldn’t be together, giving campus supervisors real-time visibility.
Minga’s Event Check-in feature has also transformed large events like homecoming and prom, cutting check-in times from over an hour to just 15 minutes, while improving accuracy. Additionally, Minga’s community features, like the Gallery, help showcase student activities and build school spirit, especially during the pandemic when virtual engagement was crucial.
What Minga Offered:
“
We used to use paper and highlighting to take attendance for a dance. ‘What’s your name? What’s your ID?’ Then looking for the kid’s name on the spreadsheet, highlighting it, and then stamping them or giving them a wristband. It would take at least an hour to get everyone checked in for a dance. Now, we don’t have to do that. For prom last year, it took 15 minutes. It was unbelievable and the admins were blown away.”
The Outcomes
A School’s Digital Transformation: Growing with Minga’s Expanding Platform
A Platform That Grew Alongside the School
Rancho Cotate’s journey with Minga began in 2020 when the school adopted the beta version, recognizing its potential to transform communication and student management. As Minga introduced new features—many shaped by early user feedback like Rancho Cotate’s—the platform evolved, and the school expanded its use. This partnership highlights how innovation and collaboration drive meaningful change on K12 campuses.
Building a Virtual Community During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rancho Cotate leveraged Minga to maintain a strong sense of community despite the challenges of remote and hybrid learning. The platform’s Gallery feature became a vital tool for students to share activities, celebrate accomplishments, and stay connected. This virtual community kept students engaged and fostered a sense of belonging, even when traditional in-person events were not possible.
More Reliable Digital IDs
Minga enabled Rancho Cotate to transition to a fully Digital ID system, which was a significant improvement over their previous use of physical IDs. This switch not only streamlined the identification process for students and staff but also reduced administrative burdens and simplified access to school services and events.
Efficient Event Check-ins and Accurate Attendance
Minga transformed event management at Rancho Cotate, cutting check-in times from over an hour to just 15 minutes. This efficiency allowed staff to focus more on the events and student engagement. Minga also improved attendance tracking, providing accurate records and valuable data for future event planning.
Increased Accountability with Digital Hall Passes
The implementation of Minga’s Hall Pass system brought much-needed structure to student movements on campus. Teachers could now set time limits on bathroom passes, track which students were out of the classroom, and limit the number of passes used per day. This feature reduced instances of students wandering the campus and ensured greater accountability.
Preventing Unsupervised Gatherings
Minga’s Hall Pass system also included a “No Party Groups” feature, which helped campus supervisors prevent students from meeting up in unsupervised or unauthorized areas, like bathrooms. This added layer of visibility made it easier for staff to maintain order and ensure students were where they were supposed to be, improving overall campus safety.
“
I really appreciate not having paper passes for bathrooms — I think they’re disgusting. Also, the accountability that it puts on the student and having the data to back it.
Plus, having community and posting features. Minga is where they can always go to that is school-focused. It has all the information, it has the posts, it has the QR codes — all of it can be found in one area. ”
Key Results:
120 minutes of extra classroom time
over the 23/24 school year
2% average monthly decrease
in hallway hours (23/24 year)
17,000+ student-created hall passes
over the 23/24 school year
72% of hall passes were student-created
saving a ton of teacher time in writing these out
153 total polls & 9,235 total votes
capturing important student voice and choice
15 minutes
check in time (reduced from 1hr)
Are You Ready to Grow with Minga?
Join schools like Rancho Cotate High and experience how Minga can evolve with your campus. Schedule a demo to see firsthand how your school can undertake a strategic digital transformation over time.