If you’re moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico and you have school-aged children, the most important question you to ask yourself is, which school should I send them to? After all, choosing your child’s school is a big deal! Fortunately, there are lots of top-notch schools to choose from in Albuquerque, NM — the trick is just knowing what they are and which one will be best for your child. Below are some of the best elementary & middle schools, high schools, and private schools in Albuquerque, NM.
Best Albuquerque Elementary & Middle Schools
- Coral Community Charter School is a free public charter school that consists of grades K-6; it’s considered one of the most elite in the city. Known for its single-gender classes, the school’s philosophy is to give a high-quality, individualized education to ensure students’ proficiency. The school also believes in getting parents involved and creating a community where students and their families feel comfortable, regardless of culture, income, and educational background.
- New Mexico International School is another free public charter school that consists of grades K-5; its focus is broadening students’ horizons to the international world. The educational system is founded on 3 components: A world curriculum based on state content standards, bilingualism, with the opportunity for students to learn English, Spanish, and Arabic, and after-school enrichment activities.
- Southwest Intermediate Learning Center consists of grades 7-8 and is part of the larger Southwest Learning Centers, which has grades 4-6 and a high school. The school combines traditional classroom instruction with a high-tech, computer-based curriculum. The main goal of the school is preparing students of all ages for higher education.
- Montessori Elementary & Middle School is a charter school through the Public Education Commission of New Mexico; it consists of grades K-8 and implements the unique Montessori philosophy in its classrooms. In addition to a strong Montessori academic curriculum, the school offers a fine arts program that includes the Suzuki Method, General Music, and Visual Arts.
Best Albuquerque High Schools
- Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science has grades 6-12 and is geared toward students with strong affinities for math and science. The student body is diverse in terms of culture, ethnicity, and economic background, but they all come together with the common goal of higher education. The school’s curriculum is quite challenging, but the classes are small and the faculty is dedicated to helping each student succeed.
- La Cueva High School is a public high school with grades 9-12 and nearly 1500 students. The goal of the school is to prepare students to become leaders and contributors in the real world. The school provides a well-rounded education, including a strong academic curriculum, life skills, technology proficiency, and career awareness.
Best Albuquerque Private Schools
- Albuquerque Academy is a non-denominational, co-ed, independent day school for over 1000 students in grades 6-12. The curriculum is not only based on traditional academic learning but also on creative and independent doing and thinking. As a private school, tuition costs approximately $22,000 per year for high school seniors. The high price tag comes with the following titles: #1 STEM high school in New Mexico, #1 best college prep school in New Mexico, and #1 overall best private high school in New Mexico.
- Sandia Preparatory School is an independent 6-12 school that is geared toward preparing students for college. The school has a 100% graduation rate, a 7:1 student to teacher ratio, engineering and coding programs, comprehensive visual and performing arts, and competitive athletics teams. Yearly tuition is approximately $21,600, though financial assistance is available.
Narrowing Down Your Choices
One of the great things about Albuquerque, NM is that its choice of top-quality schools is so vast. However, with so many good schools to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one is best for your child.
A good way to make your decision is to narrow down your options to 3 schools, and then go visit each one. When you’re there, you’ll be able to see what vibe the students give off and how the administrators interact with them. Also, if your children are old enough to have a say, hear them out. Listening to their opinions and letting them take part in the decision making can be a good way to ease the transition of moving to a new city and starting a new school.
