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Excellent

#71 of 864 schools in NM

Top 8% in state

Desert Ridge Middle

Middle School · ALBUQUERQUE

8400 BARSTOW NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122

Enrollment

788

Student-Teacher

13.4:1

Score

8.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Mexico schools

#71 of 864

In Albuquerque

#17 of 190

public schools

In district

#11 of 169

ALBUQUERQUE

Academic performance

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Desert Ridge Middle

8.4/10

Middle School in Albuquerque · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Altura Preparatory School

9.1/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

La Cueva High

8.0/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Desert Ridge Middle

Desert Ridge Middle is a public middle school in Albuquerque, NM, part of ALBUQUERQUE. Desert Ridge Middle serves approximately 788 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Desert Ridge Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #71 of 864 schools in NM.

Structured state assessment records for Desert Ridge Middle show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares2.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.1
  • NM avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.51 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics9.8Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency66% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency64% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)40% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+23.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,108
Chronic Absenteeism20.9%

Desert Ridge Middle — Students at Desert Ridge Middle score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

38.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NM EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 59.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 65.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 23 test records from NM state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
66%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
71%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
76%
2012
Math
69%
ELA
76%
2013
Math
68%
ELA
78%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
53%
2015
Math
51%
ELA
50%
2016
Math
49%
ELA
48%
2017
Math
51%
2018
Math
56%
ELA
59%
2019
Math
56%
ELA
59%
2022
Math
62%
ELA
66%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.3/10.

How Desert Ridge Middle Compares

See how Desert Ridge Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
92th percentile in NM
Academic
9.8/10
Excellent
Growth
7.3/10
Very Good
Environment
8.4/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
39%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
59 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

8400 BARSTOW NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Desert Ridge Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. ALTURA PREPARATORY SCHOOL (rated 9.1/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is HUBERT H HUMPHREY ELEMENTARY (rated 8.7/10, 2.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, EXPLORE ACADEMY (rated 8.7/10, 2.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Albuquerque, see our Albuquerque schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
ALTURA PREPARATORY SCHOOL Albuquerque 0.3 mi 9.1
LA CUEVA HIGH Albuquerque 0.4 mi 8.0
DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 0.8 mi 6.3
MONTESSORI ONE Albuquerque 0.8 mi 8.0
MONTESSORI ONE Albuquerque 0.8 mi 8.0
NORTH STAR ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 1.0 mi 7.4
HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-HIGH Albuquerque 1.2 mi 6.5
HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 1.3 mi 2.9
EDMUND G ROSS ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 1.4 mi 7.1
OAK GROVE CLASSICAL ACADEMY Albuquerque 1.8 mi 6.9
ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY Albuquerque 1.9 mi 7.0
DESIGN FOR LEARNING DIFFERENCES SCHOOL Albuquerque 2.2 mi 6.6
DLD SYCAMORE SCHOOL Albuquerque 2.2 mi 7.2
CORRALES INTERNATIONAL Albuquerque 1.9 mi 6.5
HUBERT H HUMPHREY ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 2.3 mi 8.7
ARROYO DEL OSO ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 2.3 mi 5.4
DOUBLE EAGLE ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 2.4 mi 7.8
EXPLORE ACADEMY Albuquerque 2.5 mi 8.7
OSUNA ELEMENTARY Albuquerque 3.1 mi 6.5
EISENHOWER MIDDLE Albuquerque 3.0 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 87122 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$161,299

Median Home Value

$614,200

Median Rent

$1,900/mo

Population

18,776

College Educated

72.7%

Homeownership

91.4%

Avg Commute

22.4 min

Poverty Rate

3.4%

Median Age

45.5

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
EISENHOWER MIDDLE Albuquerque, NM 8.2
CAMINO REAL MIDDLE Las Cruces, NM 7.5
HERMOSA MIDDLE SCHOOL Farmington, NM 7.5
TONY HILLERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL Albuquerque, NM 7.5
LOS ALAMOS MIDDLE Los Alamos, NM 7.4
GADSDEN MIDDLE Anthony, NM 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Desert Ridge Middle

What grades does Desert Ridge Middle serve?

Desert Ridge Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Desert Ridge Middle?

Desert Ridge Middle has an enrollment of approximately 788 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Middle?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Middle is 13.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Ridge Middle rank in NM?

Desert Ridge Middle ranks #71 of 864 schools in NM.

What is Desert Ridge Middle's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Ridge Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Desert Ridge Middle?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Ridge Middle has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Desert Ridge Middle a charter school?

No, Desert Ridge Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desert Ridge Middle a Title I school?

No, Desert Ridge Middle is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Ridge Middle?

38.7% of students at Desert Ridge Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
32 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
22 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
65 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
788
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
59
Free/Reduced Lunch
38.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Bernalillo County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.9%

District

ALBUQUERQUE
District Enrollment
76,756
Schools in District
174
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,108
District Rank
#11 of 169

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