While some students excel in traditional settings, others might benefit from the innovative forms of education that take place in magnet schools. Public magnet schools focus on specific themes, such as math, science, technology, or the performing arts. These schools must meet several criteria to qualify as a magnet school.
In the Albuquerque area, we are fortunate to have several magnet schools to choose from. We hope the following list helps you make the best school choice for your family.
Thank you to the Family Teacher Organization at Desert Willow Family School and Coyote Willow Family School for sponsoring this Guide to Magnet Schools in the Albuquerque area.
Desert Willow Family School (east side) and its sister school Coyote Willow Family School (west side) are alternative K-8 programs offered by the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS).
Students attend a public school program that combines a half-day or 80% of classroom instruction with a half-day or 20% of home-based instruction. This unique arrangement helps parents take an active role in the education of their children. Students develop their own knowledge by actively engaging in problem-solving lessons. The multi-age, open-ended curriculum is designed to help students take responsibility for their learning process. The use of both the classroom and home environment encourages students to grow into self-initiating, life-long learners. The student curriculum is a rigorous, hands-on, integrated, self-directed approach to cooperative learning. Parents attend a monthly class designed to help them share responsibility for assessing and educating their student(s). They believe that, as a community of learners, their ability to change and grow is fundamental to the learning process and understanding of the world around them.
Admissions for each school are lottery-based. Learn more at an informational meeting or open house.
Desert Willow Family School
- Admissions information
- Next informational meeting: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 5:30 pm
- Next open house: Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Coyote Willow Family School
Parent Testimonial
“Family School has been such a great fit for my kids and our family. They have thrived in the multi-aged classrooms because they are able to work at their own pace, getting extra support when needed, in certain areas while still being able to move ahead in other areas. More importantly, they are learning how to take control of their own learning process giving them skills which will benefit them their whole lives.” -Katherine M.
Without further ado, check out this list of magnet schools in the Albuquerque area.
Family Schools
These schools are K-8 programs that combine public school classes with home-based instruction.
Desert Willow Family School | 3303 Monroe NE
Coyote Willow Family School | 7125 Irving Blvd. NW
Dual Language
At dual language schools, students speak and learn in both English and Spanish.
Coronado Elementary School | 601 4th St. SW
Longfellow Elementary School | 400 Edith NE
Hayes Middle School | 1100 Texas St. NE
Project-Based & Technology
These schools offer a collaborative learning experience focused on real-world projects in a technology-rich environment.
nex+Gen Academy High School | 5325 Montgomery NE
Zuni Elementary School | 6300 Claremont Avenue NE
Career Awareness & Readiness
Students take classes in a variety of career areas including nursing, emergency medicine, engineering, languages, and auto mechanics.
Career Enrichment Center | 807 Mountain Rd. NE
Early College High Schools
Students at these schools earn a high school diploma along with college credits while still in high school. Many students earn their associate’s degree.
College & Career High School | 940 University Blvd. SE
Early College Academy | 807 Mountain Rd. NE
Multiple Paths to Graduation
Students in these schools can either explore careers and gain experience through job shadowing and internships as they earn their diplomas or focus on resiliency and decision-making strategies for success in the workplace and college.
School on Wheels | 129 Hartline Road SW
Freedom High | 5200 Cutler Ave NE
Blended Learning
This school develops 21st-century skills through personalized digital and project-based learning with flexible scheduling. eCADEMY also offers classes for credit recovery and advancement.
BlendED at eCADEMY | 5300 Cutler Ave. NE or 6440 Western Trails NW
Arts Integration
The mission of this preK-6th grade school is to instill an artist’s approach to learning so students will be able to take intentional risks to ask probing questions, and explain, justify, analyze, critique, and create answers to complex, interdisciplinary problems through both an independent and collaborative approach to learning.
Janet Kahn School of Integrated Arts | 9717 Indian School Road NE
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a highly rigorous, internationally recognized program of study to develop inquiring, open-minded, knowledgeable, risk-taking, principled, and reflective world citizens.
Sandia High School | 7801 Candelaria NE
STEM
These schools particularly focus on Science, Technology, Engineering & Math.
Inez Elementary School | 1700 Pennsylvania Street NE
San Antonito Elementary School | 12555 North Hwy. 14, Sandia Park
Engineering The Future K-12 Pathway
Students in these schools learn to think like engineers and use the design process to create solutions to real-world problems.
Mission Avenue STEM Magnet Elementary School | 725 Mission Avenue NE
Garfield STEM Magnet and Community Middle School | 3501 Sixth Street NW
Valley High School | 1505 Candelaria Rd. NW
Sustaining The Future K-12 Pathway
The magnet theme for these schools is Environmental STEM.
Los Padillas Elementary | 2525 Los Padillas Road SW
Mountain View Elementary | 5317 Second Street SW
Polk Middle School | 2220 Raymac Road SW
Rio Grande High School | 2300 Arenal Road SW
