Excellent
#71 of 864 schools in NM
Top 8% in state
Desert Ridge Middle
Middle School · Albuquerque · Albuquerque, NM
An Albuquerque middle school where students score 24 points above what's typical for similar communities.
8400 BARSTOW NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122
- Math 62% proficient (2022)
- Reading 66% proficient (2022)
- 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Ridge Middle score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NM average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 14-year record (2009–2022), then recovered 13 points since 2017, reaching 64% in 2022.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
Based on 23 test records from NM state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
38.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Desert Ridge Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 32Car-Dependent
- Transit 22Minimal Transit
- Bike 65Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,820/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Albuquerque), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$161,299
Median home value
$614,200
Median rent
$1,900/mo
College educated
72.7%
Homeownership
91.4%
Poverty rate
3.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 87122; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Christian School-elementaryPrivate · tuition | 2.9private | K–12 | 1.3 mi | 1,211 | Compare → |
| Oak Grove Classical AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.9private | PK–12 | 1.8 mi | 369 | Compare → |
| Corrales InternationalCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.5 | K–12 | 1.9 mi | 255 | Compare → |
| Design for Learning Differences SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | 2–12 | 2.2 mi | 56 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Albuquerque
- Schools in district
- 174
- Rank in district
- #11 of 169
- District spending per student
- $15,108NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Desert Ridge Middle is listed in ALBUQUERQUE; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Ridge Middle
Desert Ridge Middle is a public middle school in Albuquerque, NM, part of Albuquerque, serving approximately 788 students in grades 6th-8th with a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #71 of 864 schools in NM. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 788
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 59
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Bernalillo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.9%
- Phone
- (505) 857-9282
- Area population (ZIP 87122)
- 18,776
- Area average commute
- 22.4 min
- Area median age
- 45.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 87122; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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