Albuquerque Schools
You will find ample educational opportunities & types around the Albuquerque metro. From Pre-K through high school, there are highly rated public schools, charter schools, Montessori schools & private institutions. Secondary & post-secondary institutions focus on research & technical skills to prepare students for the workforce. No matter the type of school you are seeking, you will find opportunities to choose from in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Public Schools (APS)
Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is the largest of New Mexico's 89 school districts. It encompasses 143 schools across 1200 square miles. Approximately one fourth of New Mexico's student population attends APS. The district includes 88 elementary schools, 5 grades K-8 schools, 28 middle schools, 20 high schools & 31 APS authorized charter schools. APS yields an average 4-year graduation rate of 80% & approximately 53% of students enroll in college courses in the fall following high school graduation.
Students from Albuquerque, Corrales & Los Ranchos, Bernalillo & Sandoval counties as well as the pueblos of Isleta & Laguna attend Albuquerque Public Schools. APS is the largest employer in Albuquerque. More than 11,000 full-time jobs, including 5,300 teachers are maintained by APS. There were 8,821 certified staff members (district & school based) during the 2021-2022 school year. A total of 1,660 educational assistants are also employed by APS to help teachers better serve their classrooms & students.
Charter & Montessori Schools
Nearly 10,000 students in the Albuquerque metro attend APS-authorized charter schools. Charter schools operate independently from school districts, under a performance contract with an authorizer. The two authorizers in New Mexico are the New Mexico Public Education Commission & APS. The average 4-year graduation rate for seniors is 52.8% with some schools at much higher output of 96.7% at the Public Academy for Performing Arts, 92.1% at El Camino Real Academy & 89.5% at East Mountain HS.
There are also numerous Montessori schools in the Albuquerque metro. In a Montessori setting, students focus on subjects that pique their interest, with ample opportunities for hands-on learning. This environment centers on self-directed & collaborative play. There are 16 Montessori schools in Albuquerque, 1 in Bernalillo, 1 in Corrales & 2 in Rio Rancho. Montessori schools typically serve Pre-K - Elementary age however there is a range from as early as 6 weeks to as late as 15 years old.
Rio Rancho Public Schools (RRPS)
Rio Rancho Public Schools (RRPS), located in Rio Rancho, serves nearly 17,000 students. It is comprised of Shining Stars Preschool, 12 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools, Independence High School (alternative 9-12) & Rio Rancho Cyber Academy (6-12). The district wide graduation rate average is 87%. RRPS ranks #1 best school district in athletics & #9 best school district overall in New Mexico. RRPS offers an Academic Youth Development (AYD) Academy summer program for students entering 6th or 9th grades for further development of math & problem solving skills.
There are 2,300 staff employed by Rio Rancho Public Schools. 100% of teachers are certified, 89.7% of whom have 3+ years experience. RRPS boasts an above-average student-teacher ratio around 15:1. The district employs 20 full-time counselors. RRPS has earned system-wide accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission, a non-profit that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts & education service providers.
Private Schools
The Albuquerque metro is currently (2023) home to 74 private schools, compared to 200 public schools. Private schools in the area serve more than 12,000 students. 12% of K-12 students in Albuquerque receive their education at private schools (compared to 7% statewide). The average cost of private school in Albuquerque is $10,163, which can vary greatly depending on the individual school. 57% of private schools in Albuquerque are religiously affiliated.
Some of the highest ranked private schools include Albuquerque Academy, Sandia Preparatory School, Montessori ONE Academy, Axiom Christian Classical School, Bosque School, Saint Pius X High School & Menaul School. One of the benefits of a private education is the lower student-teacher ratio. Many of these top schools have ratios of 7:1 or 8:1. This is significantly less than traditional public schools.
University of New Mexico (UNM)
The University of New Mexico (UNM), founded in 1889, is New Mexico's oldest university. It is also the largest by enrollment, serving 25,000+ students. The campus covers almost 800 acres near old Route 66 in the heart of Albuquerque. The campus features Pueblo Revival architecture, with a mixture of historic & modern classrooms, student living & administrative buildings. You'll find a nationally recognized arboretum & many open spaces throughout the campus community. With a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 & 51% of classes with fewer than 20 students, the UNM learning environment offers more supported learning than comparable campuses.
UNM is an R1 designated university, the only in New Mexico with this designation. R1 is a designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education bestowed upon doctoral universities with high levels of research. UNM is home to a number of innovative research initiatives. You'll find the Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM), the Center for Advanced Research Computing (CARC), the Comprehensive Cancer Center & the Center for Quantum Information & Control (CQuIC) & others.
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) is New Mexico's largest community college. CNM offers five campus locations around Albuquerque & Rio Rancho for ease of access to students in the metro area. It is the largest higher education institution in New Mexico based on undergraduate enrollment. CNM offers career-technical programs in business, health, technology & trades which make graduates highly sought after in the local workforce. Representatives from local industries assist in program development to ensure that the skills & knowledge acquired by students align with hiring needs.
CNM employs over 2,000 faculty & staff in classrooms & across their campuses. They participate in the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Open Pathway with a commitment to improvement & performance excellence. CNM offers courses, certificates & associate degrees programs. In addition to the 5 campus locations, there are auxiliary education centers specializing in hands-on training & learning, as well as online college & adult basic education programs.