Albuquerque Public Schools
APS Honors Summer Graduates' Perseverance
219 students cross the finish line.
Albuquerque Public Schools celebrated the accomplishments of its summer school students Tuesday, hosting three graduation ceremonies at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center.
In all, 219 students received their diplomas during the day’s proceedings, marking the culmination of their hard work and dedication to completing their high school requirements.
The ceremonies recognized the perseverance of students who completed their coursework over the summer term.
“At this time, the graduates before you have completed all requirements set forth by the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education and the New Mexico Public Education Department,” Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey said as she presented the first graduating class. “We proudly present them to you to accept as graduates of Albuquerque Public Schools.”
“On behalf of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, I am thrilled and excited and honored to be able to accept this graduating class of 2026,” board member Courtney Jackson responded.
The event also highlighted the crucial role of district administrators, faculty and staff who managed the summer school sites.
For many students, the path to graduation involved overcoming obstacles and maintaining focus long after the traditional school year ended.
APS Activity Manager Leslie Coe, who presided over the ceremony, congratulated graduates.
“It is a time that many of you have waited so long for,” she said, later asking them to move their tassels to the left to symbolize the transition from high school to their next phase.
Family members, friends and loved ones filled the venue, cheering as students walked across the stage to accept their diplomas. Coe thanked them for being there.
“These graduates have not walked this journey alone,” she said. “They would not be where they’re at without your continued support, love and dedication. You as well as them have crossed the finish line.”