Can I use Bernalillo County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Bernalillo County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Bernalillo County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Bernalillo County?

Start with the 206 listed public schools and 27 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Bernalillo County Schools & Education

Name: Bernalillo County, New Mexico Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Bernalillo County, New Mexico

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

23/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

74.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

74.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 79.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,173

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,957

School Score

23/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 33/100

State Score Position

#25

of 33 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Bernalillo County

Measured School Summary

Bernalillo County faces educational challenges with a school score of 23/100 and a graduation rate of 74.1%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,173 per pupil, Bernalillo County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 30% below the New Mexico average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Bernalillo County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

206 public schools and 27 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

23/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #25 of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data.

Completion

74.1%

4.9 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,173

$784 below the state average

School coverage

206

27 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Bernalillo County has 206 public schools across 27 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Bernalillo County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS carries most of the listed public-school system, with 176 of 206 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#25

of 33 New Mexico counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary to high school visible

79,477 students

Elementary 100Middle 29High 37Other 9

175 listed schools in this county slice.

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS

Elementary school only in this slice

2,105 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 1

2 listed schools in this county slice.

EXPLORE ACADEMY

Other grade structure

1,204 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

ABQ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE

Other grade structure

910 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS is the largest listed district slice, with 176 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Bernalillo County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Bernalillo County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Bernalillo County, New Mexico

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Massive Urban Education Infrastructure

Bernalillo County manages a vast network of 206 public schools, including 112 elementary and 48 high schools. This system supports 89,180 students across 27 different districts, marking it as the state's largest educational hub.

Performance Trails State and National Benchmarks

The county's 74.1% graduation rate falls below the state average of 79% and the national 87% benchmark. Investment sits at $7,173 per pupil, which is less than the New Mexico average of $7,957 and the national $13,000 average.

Albuquerque Public Schools Leads the Region

Albuquerque Public Schools dominates the landscape with 176 schools serving 79,805 students. The county also embraces school choice, with 56 charter schools representing over 27% of all educational facilities.

Diverse Settings from City to Rural

While 161 schools are located in the city, the county also maintains 13 rural campuses. Large high schools like Volcano Vista house over 2,200 students, contrasting with a county-wide average school size of 441.

School Overview

Total Schools

206

in Bernalillo County

Reported Enrollment

89,180

206 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

27% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary112

Middle32

High48

Other14

27 School Districts in Bernalillo County

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS

2 schools

2,105 students

EXPLORE ACADEMY

1 school

1,204 students

ABQ SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE

1 school

910 students

HORIZON ACADEMY WEST

1 school

481 students

MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1 school

439 students

21ST CENTURY PUBLIC ACADEMY

1 school

393 students

NORTH VALLEY ACADEMY CHARTER

1 school

380 students

ALBUQUERQUE BILINGUAL ACADEMY

1 school

379 students

ALBUQUERQUE INSTITUTE OF MATH & SCIENCE

1 school

342 students

206 Public Schools in Bernalillo County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 19 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 206 matching schools

Public schools in Bernalillo County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
VOLCANO VISTA HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87114Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	2,216
ATRISCO HERITAGE ACADEMY HS	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87121Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	2,114
LA CUEVA HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87122City: Large	9–12	High	1,816
WEST MESA HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87121City: Large	9–12	High	1,799
CIBOLA HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87114City: Large	9–12	High	1,762
SANDIA HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87110City: Large	9–12	High	1,728
ALBUQUERQUE HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87102City: Large	9–12	High	1,714
ELDORADO HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87111City: Large	PK–12	Other	1,622
RIO GRANDE HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87105Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,532
MANZANO HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87112City: Large	PK–12	Other	1,365
GEORGE I SANCHEZ	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87121Rural: Fringe	PK–8	Primary	1,221
EXPLORE ACADEMY	Profile	EXPLORE ACADEMY	ALBUQUERQUE, 87109City: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,204
MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS 1.0	Profile	MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87106City: Large	PK–12	Charter	1,168
HIGHLAND HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87108City: Large	9–12	High	1,152
DEL NORTE HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87110City: Large	9–12	High	1,070
VALLEY HIGH	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87107City: Large	9–12	High	1,039
TONY HILLERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87114Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	1,035
ECADEMY	Profile	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87110City: Large	KG–12	Other	952
MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS 2.0	Profile	MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87121Suburb: Large	PK–8	Charter	937
TRES VOLCANES COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL	Record	ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	ALBUQUERQUE, 87120Rural: Fringe	KG–8	Primary	934

VOLCANO VISTA HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87114 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,216 students

ATRISCO HERITAGE ACADEMY HS

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87121 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,114 students

LA CUEVA HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87122 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,816 students

WEST MESA HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87121 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,799 students

CIBOLA HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87114 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,762 students

SANDIA HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87110 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,728 students

ALBUQUERQUE HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87102 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,714 students

ELDORADO HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87111 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Other1,622 students

RIO GRANDE HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87105 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,532 students

MANZANO HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87112 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Other1,365 students

GEORGE I SANCHEZ

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87121 / Rural: Fringe

ProfilePK–8Primary1,221 students

EXPLORE ACADEMY

ALBUQUERQUE, 87109 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,204 students

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS 1.0

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87106 / City: Large

ProfilePK–12Charter1,168 students

HIGHLAND HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87108 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,152 students

DEL NORTE HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87110 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,070 students

VALLEY HIGH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87107 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,039 students

TONY HILLERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87114 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle1,035 students

ECADEMY

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87110 / City: Large

ProfileKG–12Other952 students

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS 2.0

MISSION ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87121 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–8Charter937 students

TRES VOLCANES COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ALBUQUERQUE, 87120 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–8Primary934 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,173

State avg $7,957

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Bernalillo County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New Mexico counties have the highest graduation rates?

Los Alamos County (93.0%), De Baca County (90.0%), and Mora County (90.0%) currently lead New Mexico among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in New Mexico?

Across New Mexico counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,957. The highest current county values are Catron County ($13,747), Harding County ($13,463), and Guadalupe County ($10,823). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Bernalillo County?

Bernalillo County has a school score of 23/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Bernalillo County?

The high school graduation rate in Bernalillo County is 74.1%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Bernalillo County spend per student?

Bernalillo County spends $7,173 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Bernalillo County, New Mexico?

How do schools in Bernalillo County perform academically?

What are the major school districts in Bernalillo County, New Mexico?

What is the school experience like in Bernalillo County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Luna County

New Mexico

+0 pts

23/100

School score

San Juan County

New Mexico

+1 pts

24/100

School score

Doña Ana County

New Mexico

+1 pts

24/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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