Albuquerque Public Schools
Academies of Albuquerque
The academies model is a vision for transforming high school education - and the high school experience - in Albuquerque Public Schools.
Albuquerque Public Schools is on the threshold of a new era in high school education.
With an eye toward rigor, relevance and excellence, two APS high schools soon will take the initial steps in what eventually will be a transformative change in the way secondary education is delivered and experienced throughout the city.
Highland and Manzano high schools will be the first to incorporate an innovative model of school transformation, starting with freshmen in the fall of 2025. Eventually, APS plans to spread the change to all of its 13 comprehensive high schools, aiming to offer students the opportunity to receive real-world teaching and coaching on a variety of potential career fronts.
How It Works
Imagine a high school in which every student has a menu of potential career pathways, with a large cadre of community business partners providing expertise, guidance and networking opportunities all along the way. Those pathways would run the gamut of opportunity aligned to New Mexico’s economic environment and future workforce needs, from culinary to medical and beyond, and use the industry lens to engage students more deeply in core classes such as math, English, social studies and science.
When fully incorporated, the Academies of Albuquerque model will fully embrace APS’ Goals 3 and 4 – offering improved opportunities for post-secondary readiness and improving the skills, habits and mindsets most aligned to life success.
The goal is to create an environment that promotes not just learning, but engagement – something that drives interest, improves attendance, and yes, educational outcomes.
Highland and Manzano will be the pioneers of the academies model. These schools will launch a Freshman Academy in the 2025-26 school year. The Freshman Academy framework focuses on helping ninth-grade students explore their aptitudes and interests. It also provides signature experiences for students including a career fair, college fair and/or visit, and a commitment to graduation ceremony.
Other APS high schools have been working with academies models over the years, and some will begin incorporating those concepts into efforts similar to those that are debuting at Highland and Manzano.
It’s important to note APS does not see the initial launch as merely a pilot program. The district is committed to building on existing programming to realize a full buildout over several years, one that eventually will involve every comprehensive high school and every student.
Tenets of the Academies Model
The approach is based on these tenets:
- Making learning relevant and connected to students’ interests and aspirations.
- Supporting college and career readiness with clear pathways aligned to workforce needs.
- Building strong relationships between students, educators and community partners.
- Ensuring equity and access to high-quality, real-world learning for all APS students.
- Strengthening Albuquerque’s future workforce and economic vitality.