The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Albuquerque for 2026 are Coyote Willow Family School (9.5/10), New Mexico International School (9.4/10), and Montessori of the Rio Grande (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 100 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Albuquerque's 105 ranked elementary schools span a wide range of performance, with a metro average of 6.6 out of 10 and the top performer, Montessori of the Rio Grande, reaching 9.2. That gap matters when you're choosing where your child will spend five or six formative years. Monte Vista Elementary and Mountain Mahogany Community School both score 9.0, and Alvarado and Bandelier Elementary each earn an 8.8 — giving families several strong options across different parts of the city. Roughly 41 percent of ranked schools score 7.0 or above, so genuinely high-performing options are available, but they're not evenly distributed. The table below lets you sort by overall score, school type, and other key metrics to zero in on what fits your family's priorities. Start with the top of the list or filter by neighborhood — either way, the data is here to help you compare quickly.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.5
- 29.4
- 39.1
- 49.1
- 59.0
- 69.0
- 78.7
- 88.7
- 98.4
- 108.4
All 100 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 100
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Coyote Willow Family SchoolAlbuquerquestudents 284student-teacher ratio 17.8:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 2New Mexico International SchoolcharterAlbuquerquestudents 401student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 3Montessori of the Rio GrandecharterAlbuquerquestudents 219student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 4Altura Preparatory SchoolcharterAltura Preparatory Schoolstudents 259student-teacher ratio 18.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 5Cien Aguas InternationalcharterAlbuquerquestudents 419student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 621st Century Public Academycharter21st Century Public Academystudents 378student-teacher ratio 11.8:1grades 1st–8th
- 7Hubert H Humphrey ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 466student-teacher ratio 15.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 8Albuquerque Bilingual AcademycharterAlbuquerque Bilingual Academystudents 408student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 9Onate ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 267student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 10Desert Willow Family SchoolAlbuquerquestudents 295student-teacher ratio 17.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 11Georgia O'keeffe ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 505student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 12Tres Volcanes Community Collaborative SchoolAlbuquerquestudents 937student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades Kindergarten–8th
- 13Alvarado ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 274student-teacher ratio 11.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 14S. Y. Jackson ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 527student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 15Double Eagle ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 551student-teacher ratio 15.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 16Los Padillas ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 205student-teacher ratio 7.3:1grades Pre-K–6th
- 17Coronado ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 301student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 18Horizon Academy WestcharterHorizon Academy Weststudents 524student-teacher ratio 16.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 19Zia ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 231student-teacher ratio 11.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 20North Star ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 535student-teacher ratio 14.9:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 21George I SanchezAlbuquerquestudents 1,099student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 22Ventana Ranch ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 617student-teacher ratio 14.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Monte Vista ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 384student-teacher ratio 12.8:1grades Kindergarten–5th
- 24Edmund G Ross ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 364student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 25Mark Twain ElementaryAlbuquerquestudents 274student-teacher ratio 11.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and New Mexico education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in New Mexico. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Coyote Willow Family School
Albuquerque
284 students · 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 10.0
- Environment
- 7.7
- 2
New Mexico International School
Albuquerque
401 students · 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 1% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 7.7
- 3
Montessori of the Rio Grande
Albuquerque
219 students · 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 1% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 8.9
- 4
Altura Preparatory School
Altura Preparatory School
259 students · 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–5th
Top 2% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 5.9
- 5
Cien Aguas International
Albuquerque
419 students · 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 2% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 8.5
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 9.2
- 6
21st Century Public Academy
21st Century Public Academy
378 students · 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 1st–8th
Top 3% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 9.9
- Environment
- 7.6
- 7
Hubert H Humphrey Elementary
Albuquerque
466 students · 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 4% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 8.1
- Environment
- 8.2
- 8
Albuquerque Bilingual Academy
Albuquerque Bilingual Academy
408 students · 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–8th
Top 4% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 7.2
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 8.2
- 9
Onate Elementary
Albuquerque
267 students · 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 7% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 7.8
- Environment
- 8.5
- 10
Desert Willow Family School
Albuquerque
295 students · 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Kindergarten–8th
Top 7% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 7.7
- Environment
- 7.8
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Coyote Willow Family School is the top-rated elementary school in Albuquerque with a composite score of 9.5/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Albuquerque has 133 elementary schools, including 15 charter schools. Of these, 128 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Albuquerque?
Among 128 Albuquerque elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 5.8/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in New Mexico).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within New Mexico, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in New Mexico, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Albuquerque elementary school rankings?
Albuquerque has 15 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Albuquerque2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Albuquerque2026 rankings and ratings
- All 241 schools in AlbuquerqueElementary, middle and high
- New Mexico schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings