Academies of Albuquerque FAQ

The Academies of Albuquerque are a districtwide high school redesign initiative that connects rigorous academics with career-connected learning and real-world experiences. Through themed academies and career pathways, students explore their interests, develop practical and academic skills, and graduate prepared for college, career and life.

In 2024, the New Mexico Legislature passed House Bill 171, which updated graduation requirements and called on school districts to rethink the high school experience so students are better prepared for life after graduation.

The law also required districts to define a  Profile of a Graduate – a clear, shared description of the skills and qualities students should have when they complete high school.

In response, APS engaged students, families, educators, and community members to shape its  Profile of a Graduate and asked a fundamental question: What should high school look like if we are truly preparing young people for what comes next?

The Academies of Albuquerque are APS’s answer. Guided by the Profile of a Graduate, the Academies align coursework, real-world experiences, and personalized advisement around a shared vision for student success – including strong academic skills, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and career awareness and readiness for life beyond high school. Through structured pathways and intentional planning across four years, students build these skills while preparing for their next steps after graduation.

The Academies of Albuquerque align directly with the APS Board of Education Goals, which were shaped by community input. The Board asked families, students, educators, and community members what they wanted APS graduates to know and be able to do, and that shared vision became the foundation for the district’s four goals.

The Academies strongly support Goal 3, which focuses on college and career readiness by expanding access to advanced coursework, dual credit and dual language programs, and industry-recognized certifications.

They also align with Goal 4, which emphasizes the skills, habits, and mindsets students need for life success — including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and a growth mindset — as outlined in the APS Profile of a Graduate.

Together, the Board’s goals and the Profile of a Graduate define what success looks like for APS students, and the Academies are a key way that vision is delivered in high schools.

Early data from design work and similar models show that relevance, personalization, and real-world engagement can increase attendance, deepen engagement, and improve graduation rates, so more students leave high school ready for their next chapter.

APS is building the Academies of Albuquerque by expanding strong programs that already exist and thoughtfully phasing in new ones. Several APS high schools already offer specialized, career-connected learning, including magnet programs at Valley High School (engineering) and Rio Grande High School (environmental science and agriculture), developed through the APS Office of Innovation.

During the 2025–26 school year, Highland, Cibola, and Manzano high schools launched Freshman Academies as the first phase of the Academies model. All ninth-grade students participating in a Freshman Academy focus on exploration, academic readiness, and relationship-building, supported by interdisciplinary teams of teachers who work closely with students throughout the year.

What comes next: Several additional high schools have expressed interest in launching Freshman Academies in the 2026-27 school year. During this next phase, schools will work closely with students, families, educators, and community partners to determine which academies best reflect their school communities. Student and family voices will be central as schools prepare to roll out career pathways following ninth grade.

Our four-year journey systematically builds student expertise:

• 9th Grade: Explore & Discover
  Students explore career pathways through hands-on activities and industry exposure, discovering their interests and strengths while building foundational skills.
• 10th Grade: Connect & Apply
  Core academic classes remain grounded in strong standards-based instruction, with opportunities for students to make connections between subjects like algebra, English, and science and their areas of interest.
• 11th Grade: Specialize & Prepare
  Students dive deeper into advanced pathway coursework while preparing for real-world work experiences through industry certifications and skill-building projects.
• 12th Grade: Experience & Excel
  The capstone year features internships and comprehensive projects that demonstrate mastery and readiness for college, careers, or both.

Of course. Students continue to take core academic courses, but learning is connected to the focus of their academy, so it feels relevant and meaningful. Reading, writing, math, science, and problem-solving are taught through real-world themes and projects that help students see how what they are learning applies beyond the classroom.

This approach increases engagement and strengthens relationships between students and teachers – two key factors in improving attendance and persistence. When students feel connected to their learning and supported by a team of educators, they are more likely to stay engaged and succeed in high school.

Yes. The Academies framework is designed to be inclusive and available to students across APS high schools. Each student’s pathway connects to their interests and goals, and supports equitable access to career exploration, work-based learning, and post-high-school planning.

APS is developing a set of career academies that high school students may access as the Academies of Albuquerque expand across the district’s comprehensive high schools. These academies include:

• Health and medical science
• Business, marketing, hospitality, and entrepreneurship
• Public service
• Applied engineering, technology, and design
• Digital media, creative arts, and entertainment
• Agriscience, business, and sustainability

Each high school will select the academies that best fit its students and school community. Decisions will be made in partnership with each school’s Instructional Council and shaped by student and family voice, as well as the interests, strengths, and opportunities unique to each community.

Students may change their pathway if it’s not the right fit and they can still complete a required three-course sequence for graduation. Choosing a pathway is not about selecting a lifelong career, but about learning core academic content through a high-interest field and building skills that support success after high school.

The Academies of Albuquerque are a community-built effort. Students, families, educators, school leaders, higher education partners, community organizations, and business leaders are all helping shape the redesign of APS high schools.

United Way of North Central New Mexico serves as APS’s anchor partner, helping connect schools with business and industry so learning stays relevant and grounded in real experiences.

APS is also working with Ford Next Generation Learning, which provides coaching, research, and expertise. While Ford NGL offers guidance, the Academies of Albuquerque are being intentionally designed to reflect Albuquerque’s students, values, and opportunities.

Community members can participate through design teams that are shaping how the Academies work in real classrooms. To get involved, email academiesofabq@aps.edu.