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APS Reimagines High School Graduation Credits

Posted January 15, 2025, 8:25 PM. Updated January 15, 2025, 8:25 PM.

Changes create more flexibility for students, mandate Personal Financial Literacy class.

Aiming to give students more ownership, flexibility and relevance in the courses they take, Albuquerque Public Schools is retooling high school graduation requirements for the future.

The changes, approved by the Board of Education Wednesday, are set to go into effect in the 2025-26 school year and impact the graduating class of 2029. The board approved new requirements that include a half-credit for Personal Financial Literacy and 1 1/2 additional credits for electives.

The changes come in response to community input and House Bill 171, passed by the Legislature in 2024. The law affects all New Mexico school districts.

APS began working on reimagining requirements soon after the bill became law and distributed surveys to students, staff and families. A majority responded they felt it was important to earn credit in financial literacy. An advisory committee, with input from the surveys and school instructional councils, contributed to the plan.

"We're excited about the possibilities the changes brought about by HB 171 can have for students," said APS Superintendent Gabriella Blakey. "I'm particularly happy about how these modifications align to APS' Goal 3 -- increasing the post-secondary readiness of our students. By giving students and families more relevance and flexibility over their education, we believe we can help prepare them for life beyond high school. We’re creating personalized pathways that will make a difference."

HB 171 requires 24 credits to graduate. APS has historically required 25 and will maintain the standard. 

Nevertheless, the transformation is multi-layered and has several key elements. They include:

  • Students will be required to take Personal Financial Literacy as a graduation requirement.
  • Beginning in 2025-26, eighth-graders will earn a required health high school credit while still in middle school. The credit will transfer into high school and count toward graduation requirements.
  • New Mexico History will be integrated into U.S. History and Geography for the class of 2029. New Mexico history will still be a key part of the learning experience; this will allow the state’s story to be incorporated into a broader curriculum involving the entire nation.

By broadening the scope and options of curriculum offerings, students will be able to make more decisions about the direction of their education. Specifically, the changes will give students and their families more flexibility as they develop Next Step Plans – seen as an important component in helping young people begin thinking about their futures after high school.

"This represents a bold step forward in ensuring our students graduate prepared for life, work and higher education,” said Mark A. Garcia, associate superintendent for secondary learning. “Implementation will begin in year one and continue with a phased rollout over the next several years.”

The new requirements will be in effect for our current eighth graders, members of the Class of 2029, and the classes that follow. They will not affect current freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors, who will graduate under existing requirements.