The brief
The top-rated high schools in Albuquerque for 2026 are Early College Academy (8.5/10), Nex Gen Academy (8.4/10), and La Cueva High (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 43 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Albuquerque's 43 ranked high schools span a wide range of performance, with an average composite score of 6.3 out of 10 and a clear tier of standouts pulling well above that mark. New Mexico Academy for the Media Arts leads the metro at 8.6, followed closely by Sandia High at 8.4 and Albuquerque High at 8.3. Fourteen schools — roughly a third of the field — score 7 or higher, giving families a meaningful pool of strong options to compare. The table below lets you sort by overall score, academics, or other factors to find the right fit. Charter schools appear alongside traditional public schools in the rankings; Amy Biehl Charter High and New Futures High both crack the top five. Use the filters to narrow by school type, size, or location and see how each program stacks up against the rest of the metro.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.5
- 28.4
- 37.9
- 47.9
- 57.9
- 67.8
- 77.7
- 87.4
- 97.3
- 107.3
All 43 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 43
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Early College AcademyAlbuquerquestudents 221grades 9th–12th
- 2Nex Gen AcademyAlbuquerquestudents 209student-teacher ratio 10.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 3La Cueva HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,831student-teacher ratio 18.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 4Public Academy for Performing ArtscharterAlbuquerquestudents 448student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 6th–12th
- 5Albuquerque Institute of Math & SciencecharterAlbuquerque Institute of Math & Sciencestudents 310student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 6th–12th
- 6Sandia HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,672student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 7New Mexico Academy for the Media ArtscharterNew Mexico Academy For the Media Artsstudents 150student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades 6th–12th
- 8Sw Aeronautics Mathematics and Science AcademycharterSw Aeronautics Mathematics and Science Academystudents 306student-teacher ratio 19.1:1grades 6th–12th
- 9Albuquerque HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,683student-teacher ratio 16.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 10School on Wheels High SchoolAlbuquerquestudents 64student-teacher ratio 10.7:1grades 9th–12th
- 11Digital Arts and Technology AcademycharterAlbuquerquestudents 329student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades 7th–12th
- 12New Futures High SchoolAlbuquerquestudents 67student-teacher ratio 4.8:1grades 7th–12th
- 13Volcano Vista HighAlbuquerquestudents 2,177student-teacher ratio 17.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 14Tierra AdentrocharterTierra Adentrostudents 258student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades 6th–12th
- 15Amy Biehl Charter High SchoolcharterAmy Biehl Charter High Schoolstudents 212student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 16Foothill High SchoolJuvenile Justicestudents 34student-teacher ratio 3.4:1grades 6th–12th
- 17College and Career High SchoolAlbuquerquestudents 268student-teacher ratio 19.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Cibola HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,622student-teacher ratio 17.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 19Freedom HighAlbuquerquestudents 98student-teacher ratio 8.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Aztec Youth AcademyJuvenile Justicestudents 32student-teacher ratio 4.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Valley HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,012student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 22South Valley AcademycharterAlbuquerquestudents 620student-teacher ratio 10.9:1grades 6th–12th
- 23Highland HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,169student-teacher ratio 14.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 24Atrisco Heritage Academy HSAlbuquerquestudents 2,055student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 25West Mesa HighAlbuquerquestudents 1,612student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 9th–12th
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 high 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
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 6.4
- 2
Nex Gen Academy
Albuquerque
209 students · 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 8% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 8.5
- 3
La Cueva High
Albuquerque
1,831 students · 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 12% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 7.4
- Environment
- 5.4
- 4
Public Academy for Performing Arts
Albuquerque
448 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 13% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 8.7
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 7.9
- 5
Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science
Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science
310 students · 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 13% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 10.0
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 3.0
- 6
Sandia High
Albuquerque
1,672 students · 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 14% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 5.7
- 7
New Mexico Academy for the Media Arts
New Mexico Academy For the Media Arts
150 students · 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 16% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 7.7
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 8.7
- 8
Sw Aeronautics Mathematics and Science Academy
Sw Aeronautics Mathematics and Science Academy
306 students · 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 22% in New Mexico · charter
- Academics
- 7.3
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 3.4
- 9
Albuquerque High
Albuquerque
1,683 students · 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 23% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 8.0
- Growth
- 8.8
- Environment
- 4.6
- 10
School on Wheels High School
Albuquerque
64 students · 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 24% in New Mexico
- Academics
- 6.7
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.1
Questions
What is the best high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Early College Academy is the top-rated high school in Albuquerque with a composite score of 8.5/10. 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 high schools are in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Albuquerque has 49 high schools, including 24 charter schools. Of these, 48 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Albuquerque?
Among 48 Albuquerque high schools with a composite score, the average is 6.2/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in New Mexico).
How does MySchoolScout rate high 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 high school rankings?
Albuquerque has 24 charter high 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 elementary schools in Albuquerque2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle 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