APS Sees Slight Increase in Graduation Rates

New superintendent says district must do better.

Albuquerque Public Schools saw a slight increase in its graduation rate, but the district’s new leader acknowledges that APS isn’t where it should be on this important metric.

APS high schools posted a combined 72% graduation rate for the Class of 2023, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from the Class of 2022. The rate excludes charter schools. APS has limited academic control over charter schools, and its graduation rate typically is several percentage points higher when they are excluded. 

Eight of the district’s 13 comprehensive high schools, as well as six of its seven schools of choice, saw improved graduation rates in 2023.

According to graduation rates recently published by the state Public Education Department, the statewide grad rate for the class of 2023 was 76.7%, a 0.2 percentage point increase from the class of 2022.

Dr. Gabriella Blakey, who took over as superintendent on July 1, said she’s happy the APS graduation rate increased but acknowledged that the district is working toward much bigger increases.

“We can and must do better,” Blakey said, adding that APS students deserve better outcomes. She said she’s confident the work underway with the new board goals and the strategic plan will drive bigger increases in the future.

Blakey praised Volcano Vista High for posting the highest graduation rate among comprehensive APS high schools and Del Norte High for having the biggest growth among comprehensive APS high schools.

Volcano Vista's graduation rate was 82.3%. Del Norte High, meanwhile, increased its graduation rate from 55.3% to 65.8%.

Del Norte Principal Edward Bortot said he and his team have been working hard to get students to the finish line, focusing on such things as attendance, credit recovery for students who fall behind, and restorative practices to deal with behavioral issues.

At Volcano Vista, Principal Melissa Sedillo said her school focused on attendance, eliminated in-school suspensions, and has been going the extra mile to keep students engaged through such things as a STEAM lab and doubling Career Technical Education elective classes. She said Volcano Vista has also been focusing on getting all teachers on the same page on grading practices.

Early College Academy, an APS magnet school, had the highest graduation rate in the district at 92.6%.

When comparing APS graduation rates by gender, race and ethnicity, and federal program designation, the results were mixed.

APS students who self-report as male, Black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Asian all made one-year gains in graduation rates of 1.8%, 6.2%, 2.6%, and 0.1%, respectively. Economically disadvantaged students saw a gain of 1.8% and Special Education students saw a gain of 0.1%. 

APS students who self-report as female, Hispanic, and White/Caucasian saw one-year decreases of 1.3%, 0.1%, and 0.6%, respectively. APS English Learners also saw a decrease of .7%.

Graduation Rates by High School

• Albuquerque High 70.1%
• Atrisco Heritage Academy 77.7%
• Cibola High 76.3%
• College and Career 87%
• Del Norte High 65.8%
• Early College Academy 92.6%
• Ecademy 63.8%
• Eldorado High 74.4%
• Freedom High ≤ 20%
• Highland High 55.3%
• La Cueva High 79.8%
• Manzano High 63.7%
• New Futures 54.6%
• Nex+Gen Academy 81.9%
• Rio Grande High 63%
• Sandia High 75.6%
• School on Wheels 55.3% 
• Valley High 66.4%
• Volcano Vista High 82.3% 
• West Mesa High 69.8%