Charter Schools

APS-authorized charter schools differ from public and magnet schools in that they operate independently from school districts and are held accountable by an entity called an authorizer.

APS-Authorized Charter Schools

Charter schools operate under a performance contract with their authorizer. This gives them more autonomy to serve student needs in return for a commitment to meet higher standards of accountability. In New Mexico, there are two different authorizers:

• New Mexico Public Education Commission
• APS School District

Graduation Rates 2024

APS Charters 4-Year Graduation Rates (PDF)

Charter School Lists

• APS Charter School List 
• APS Charters Contract Dates- Updated May 2025 (PDF)
• Albuquerque Area Charter Schools & Missions 2024-2025 (PDF)
• Albuquerque Area Charter Schools & Missions 2024-2025 with Board Districts (Alpha Order) (PDF)
• Albuquerque Area Charter Schools & Missions 2024-2025 with Board Districts (Board District Order) (PDF)
• All Charter Schools in New Mexico – NMPED (PDF)
• APS Charter School List with Salaries
• APS Charter Schools by Location 2024-2025 (Map)

Frequently Asked Questions About Charter Schools

• Charter Schools FAQ
• Charter Schools FAQ (PDF)

Policy & Procedural Directive

• Read the Charter School Procedural Directives
• Charter School Statutes

Governing Board

• Governing Board Resources

Charter School Authorizing

The videos below from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers give a great overview of the roles and responsibilities of an authorizer and why authorizing matters. Please select closed captioning for ease of accessibility.