APS Exceeds Postsecondary Goal, Driven by Sharp Gains Across High Schools

Data reveals a districtwide surge in college credits, industry credentials, and bilingual seals, though educators emphasize the need to close equity gaps for students with disabilities.

Albuquerque Public Schools has surged past its expectations for postsecondary readiness, fueled by double-digit gains at high schools across the city.

During a Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, officials reviewed the latest monitoring report for Goal 3 — one of four five-year goals adopted in 2023. The objective focuses on preparing graduates for life after high school, whether they plan to go to college, the military, a trade program or directly into the workforce.

Specifically, Goal 3 targets an increase in the percentage of graduates who earn credit in two or more Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual Credit courses, or who secure an industry certification or Bilingual Seal. The district set a goal to raise that figure from 39.6% in September 2023 to 49.6% by September 2028.

Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey delivered encouraging news to board members, revealing that preliminary figures for the 2025–2026 school year show 52.8% of graduates meeting the benchmark — an 8.1 percentage-point jump in a single year.

“That is an 8.1 percentage-point increase in just one year and puts us ahead of where we expected to be at this point,” Durán Blakey said.

Despite the overall progress, district leaders cautioned that systemic disparities persist, particularly for students with disabilities. Durán Blakey emphasized that expanding access to underrepresented groups remains a top priority moving forward.

“While we should be proud that more students are leaving APS with credentials and experiences that prepare them for what comes next, our work now is to make sure those opportunities reach more students across our district,” she said.

The meeting also highlighted individual achievements across 14 high schools that recorded notable progress under Goal 3 metrics:

• College and Career High School: Increased the percentage of students earning credit in a Bilingual Seal course by 10.9 percentage points.
• Del Norte High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 12.1 percentage points. 
• Early College Academy: Increased the percentage of students earning credit in a Bilingual Seal course by 4.2 percentage points.
• Eldorado High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 10.3 percentage points. 
• Freedom High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 18.8 percentage points and boosted participation in Career Connected Learning courses by 18.8 percentage points.
• Highland High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 18.7 percentage points, Career Connected Learning course credits by 22.2 percentage points, and Bilingual Seal course credits by 5.3 percentage points.
• La Cueva High School: Increased the percentage of students earning credit in at least one Career Connected Learning course by 13.1 percentage points.
• Manzano High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 17.4 percentage points, Advanced Placement or Dual Credit course completion by 8.2 percentage points, and Career Connected Learning course credits by 16 percentage points.
• New Futures High School: Posted a 24 percentage-point gain in overall Goal 3 performance and a 17.3 percentage-point increase in Advanced Placement or Dual Credit course credits.
• Rio Grande High School: Increased Advanced Placement or Dual Credit course credits by 8.1 percentage points and Bilingual Seal course credits by 5.1 percentage points.
• Sandia High School: Increased the percentage of students earning credit in at least one Career Connected Learning course by 10 percentage points.
• Valley High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 12 percentage points, Career Connected Learning course credits by 13.2 percentage points, and Bilingual Seal course credits by 4.8 percentage points.
• Volcano Vista High School: Increased overall Goal 3 performance by 17.1 percentage points, Advanced Placement or Dual Credit course credits by 9.1 percentage points, and Career Connected Learning course credits by 11.1 percentage points.
• West Mesa High School: Increased the percentage of students earning credit in a Bilingual Seal course by 9.5 percentage points.

For district officials, the data reflects broader efforts to ensure students graduate with meaningful qualifications tailored to their future paths.

“These numbers matter because of what they represent: more students earning college credit, developing multilingual skills and gaining meaningful career-connected learning experiences before they graduate,” Durán Blakey said.

“More importantly, they represent the work happening every day in our schools to make sure students graduate not simply with a diploma, but with opportunities and choices for what comes next.”