Best Schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico
243 schools · 131 Elementary · 30 Middle · 49 High · 33 Other
Choosing a school in Albuquerque?
Use this page to compare every school in Albuquerque by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Coyote Willow Family School
Elementary · Albuquerque. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
New Mexico International School
Elementary · Albuquerque. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Montessori of the Rio Grande
Elementary · Albuquerque. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated 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 real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
243
194 public · 49 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$290,500
home value · ACS
Districts
28
serving the city
Schools
243
194 public · 49 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$290,500
home value · ACS
Districts
28
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 102% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Albuquerque schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Albuquerque
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 243). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coyote Willow Family School | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | New Mexico International School | 9.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Montessori of the Rio Grande | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Altura Preparatory School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Cien Aguas International | 9.0 / 10 |
| 7 | 21st Century Public Academy | 9.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Mission Achievement and Success 1.0 | 8.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Nex Gen Academy | 8.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Hubert H Humphrey Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $70,523
- Median home value
- $290,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Albuquerque compares
New Mexico rank
#56 of 79
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below New Mexico avg (6.2)
Median household income
$71k
123% of New Mexico median
Schools in this city
232
Education Snapshot
Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque operates 242 schools across 28 districts, enrolling roughly 92,635 students. The city's composite school rating averages 6.0/10 across 231 scored schools, placing it 0.2 points below the New Mexico state average of 6.2/10 despite a median household income of $67,958 that runs 11% above the state median of $61,395. The 242 schools divide into 131 elementary campuses, 49 high schools, 30 middle schools, and 32 combined or alternative programs. Charter schools account for 53 of the 242 total, giving families a meaningful school-choice layer alongside traditional district seats. Adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher represent 38% of the population. The disconnect between above-average household income and below-average school ratings makes drilling into individual school scores — rather than relying on city averages — the more informative approach for families choosing where to enroll.
About Schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is one of the larger public school markets in the Southwest, with 190 ranked public schools spanning elementary through high school. The city average sits at 6.6 out of 10 — a useful anchor for families calibrating expectations — and 79 schools, or 42% of the field, clear the 7-out-of-10 mark, meaning a meaningful share of options land in solidly above-average territory. That spread gives parents real choices, but it also means school selection matters: the gap between the strongest and weakest schools here is substantial.
At the top of the rankings, Montessori of the Rio Grande leads the city with a 9.5, the highest score among all 190 ranked schools. It's joined by a cluster of high-performing elementaries — Coyote Willow Family School (9.4), Monte Vista Elementary (9.3), Georgia O'Keeffe Elementary (9.2), and Bandelier Elementary (9.1) — that all score well above the city average. The concentration of top performers at the elementary level is notable. Parents with school-age children in the early grades have access to genuinely strong options, with five schools scoring 9.1 or above.
Albuquerque Público Schools is the dominant district, serving the vast majority of students across the metro. Charter schools play a significant role in the high-performance tier — Montessori of the Rio Grande and Coyote Willow both operate outside the traditional district structure, which means enrollment often requires an active application and may involve a lottery.
For families starting their search, the practical takeaway is this: filter first to the 42% of schools above a 7, then layer in location, grade level, and school model. The top five elementaries are geographically distributed across the metro rather than concentrated in one neighborhood, so proximity varies. Charter waitlists in Albuquerque fill quickly; families eyeing Montessori of the Rio Grande or Coyote Willow should research application windows well in advance. At the middle and high school levels, the field is more variable, making MySchoolScout's per-school data an essential tool for comparing individual campuses before committing to a neighborhood or district transfer.
Elementary Schools
131 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 284 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 401 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.4 |
| 3 | 219 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 259 students · Kindergarten–5th | 9.1 |
| 5 | 419 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.0 |
| 6 | 378 students · 1st–8th | 9.0 |
| 7 | 466 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 8 | 408 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.7 |
| 9 | 937 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.5 |
| 10 | 267 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
Show all 131 elementary schools in Albuquerque
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
30 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83 students · 6th–8th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 788 students · 6th–8th | 8.4 |
| 3 | 769 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
| 4 | 295 students · 5th–8th | 7.7 |
| 5 | 939 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 6 | 565 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 300 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 606 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 509 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 10 | 141 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
Show all 30 middle schools in Albuquerque
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
49 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 209 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 150 students · 6th–12th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 221 students · 9th–12th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 310 students · 6th–12th | 8.4 |
| 5 | 64 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 6 | 1,672 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 |
| 7 | 448 students · 6th–12th | 8.1 |
| 8 | 1,831 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 9 | 212 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 10 | 1,683 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 |
Show all 49 high schools in Albuquerque
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
33 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,138 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 1,354 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 1,608 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 341 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.6 |
| 5 | 161 students · Kindergarten–9th | 7.3 |
| 6 | 942 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.2 |
| 7 | 320 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 |
| 8 | 255 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 146 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 |
| 10 | 436 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 |
Show all 33 other schools in Albuquerque
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico · 243 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 18 ZIP codes
Median Income
$70,523
Median Home Value
$290,500
Median Rent
$1,194/mo
Population
651,131
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
15.7%
Community Profile
Albuquerque has a median household income of $70,523. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $290,500, with a median rent of $1,194/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.7%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Mexico
- Elementary
- 131
- Middle
- 30
- High
- 49
- Other
- 33
Resources
School Districts (28)
JUVENILE JUSTICE
3 schools · 66 students
SEQUOYAH
1 school · 10 students
UNM MIMBRES SCHOOL
1 school · 14 students
ALBUQUERQUE
174 schools · 76,756 students
HORIZON ACADEMY WEST
1 school · 524 students
NEW MEXICO ACADEMY FOR THE MEDIA ARTS
1 school · 150 students
CESAR CHAVEZ COMMUNITY SCHOOL
1 school · 183 students
SOUTH VALLEY PREP
1 school · 141 students
ABQ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
1 school · 942 students
ABQ SIGN LANGUAGE ACADEMY
1 school · 146 students
TIERRA ADENTRO
1 school · 258 students
ALBUQUERQUE INSTITUTE OF MATH & SCIENCE
1 school · 310 students
AMY BIEHL CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
1 school · 212 students
ALBUQUERQUE BILINGUAL ACADEMY
1 school · 408 students
MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1 school · 444 students
SOUTHWEST PREPARATORY LEARNING CENTER
1 school · 157 students
SOUTHWEST SECONDARY LEARNING CENTER
1 school · 145 students
THE GREAT ACADEMY
1 school · 105 students
MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS
2 schools · 2,255 students
SW AERONAUTICS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
1 school · 306 students
EXPLORE ACADEMY
1 school · 1,354 students
ALTURA PREPARATORY SCHOOL
1 school · 259 students
ALBUQUERQUE COLLEGIATE CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 192 students
SOLARE COLLEGIATE CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 295 students
ACES TECHNICAL CHARTER SCHOOL
1 school · 161 students
21ST CENTURY PUBLIC ACADEMY
1 school · 378 students
RIO GRANDE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
1 school · 141 students
Isleta Elementary School
1 school · 99 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New Mexico
Top metros statewide by school count.
Featured Rankings
See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico
How many schools are in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Albuquerque has 243 schools, including 194 public and 49 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Albuquerque is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The top-ranked school in Albuquerque on MySchoolScout is Coyote Willow Family School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The top-ranked elementary school in Albuquerque on MySchoolScout is Coyote Willow Family School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The top-ranked middle school in Albuquerque on MySchoolScout is Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The top-ranked high school in Albuquerque on MySchoolScout is Nex Gen Academy with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Albuquerque is served by 28 school districts: Juvenile Justice, Sequoyah, Unm Mimbres School, Albuquerque, Horizon Academy West, New Mexico Academy for the Media Arts, Cesar Chavez Community School, South Valley Prep, Abq School of Excellence, Abq Sign Language Academy, Tierra Adentro, Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science, Amy Biehl Charter High School, Albuquerque Bilingual Academy, Montessori Elementary School, Southwest Preparatory Learning Center, Southwest Secondary Learning Center, The Great Academy, Mission Achievement and Success, Sw Aeronautics Mathematics and Science Academy, Explore Academy, Altura Preparatory School, Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School, Solare Collegiate Charter School, Aces Technical Charter School, 21st Century Public Academy, Rio Grande Academy of Fine Arts, Isleta Elementary School.
What is the education level in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Albuquerque have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The median household income in Albuquerque is approximately $70,523 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Yes, Albuquerque has 49 private schools alongside 194 public schools. The top-rated private school is Escuela Del Sol Montessori School with a score of 8.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Albuquerque is 12.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New Mexico Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.