Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Unveils New Sustaining the Future Magnet
Program will be available next school year at Los Padillas Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Polk Middle School, and Rio Grande High.
Four schools in the Rio Grande High School feeder group have been chosen to be a part of an innovative pathway called Sustaining the Future.
The new program will offer unique opportunities for Pre-K-12th grade students at Los Padillas Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Polk Middle School, and Rio Grande High School beginning next school year. The Sustaining the Future program will focus on inquiry-based learning experiences and an environmental STEM curriculum.
Students will learn to code and attain certificates from partnering universities in areas including drone flying, agricultural sustainability, clean energy technology, and sustainable farming.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller joined incoming Superintendent Gabriella Blakey and various other APS leaders at Polk Middle to formally unveil the Sustaining the Future program.
Polk Middle School principal Ben Bustos called the initiative a "garden of dreams."
"Remember, we're planting seeds to nourish our people, our families, our community," Bustos said during the news conference. "We're planting seeds for the future. We're planting seeds of hope, seeds of culture and tradition, planting seeds that will last and be there for our future generations, a true legacy for our beloved South Valley community."
The magnet program is being funded with a $12.8 million federal grant.
Francesca Ver Ploegh, the executive director of innovation at Albuquerque Public Schools, highlighted the competitiveness of the grant, noting that only 25 school districts in the nation received it.
“Sustaining the Future is aimed at increasing diversity, providing an innovative curriculum, building leadership qualities, and fostering family community partnerships, in addition to academic excellence,” Ver Ploegh said. “Any child in the district is eligible to apply for the Sustaining the Future program.”
This is the second K-12 grade pathway APS is adding to its school choice portfolio. APS in 2017 established Engineering the Future, which focuses on engineering and STEM at Mission Elementary, Garfield STEM Magnet School, and Valley High School. This new program brings the total to 25 magnet schools that offer theme-based educational opportunities.
Mayor Keller praised the options APS offers to students through its magnet schools and the rest of its portfolio.
“These kinds of innovative programs give Albuquerque youth the skills they need for exciting careers in the future and help build the foundation for a more sustainable city,” Keller added.
For more information and to enroll, go to the Sustaining the Future page.