Middle Schools in Albuquerque

The Albuquerque area is home to 28 middle schools, serving grades 6-8 across a mix of public and public charter institutions. The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance among these schools, with a few standout institutions providing a high-quality education, while others struggle to meet proficiency standards.

At the top of the pack are Eisenhower Middle, ranked 9th out of 235 New Mexico middle schools, and Desert Ridge Middle, ranked 14th. These schools boast impressive proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, well above the Albuquerque and New Mexico averages. In contrast, schools like Jimmy Carter Middle and Harrison Middle struggle, with single-digit proficiency rates in some subjects.

The data also reveals a correlation between school performance and poverty levels, with the highest-poverty schools tending to be the lowest-performing academically. This highlights the challenges faced by high-poverty schools and the need for targeted resources and support to address socioeconomic barriers to student success. However, the presence of a high-performing charter school like Voz Collegiate Preparatory suggests that school choice can provide families with alternative options beyond their assigned neighborhood schools, though access to these higher-performing schools may be limited.