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Best public high schools in New Mexico

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April 1, 2024
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Best public high schools in New Mexico

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in New Mexico using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.
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#30. Santa Fe High School

- Location: Santa Fe Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 1,594 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.
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Achira22 // Shutterstock

#29. New Mexico School for the Arts

- Location: Santa Fe, NM
- Enrollment: 314 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.
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#28. Centennial High School

- Location: Las Cruces Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 1,642 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down.
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#27. Rio Rancho High School

- Location: Rio Rancho Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 2,554 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.
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Mircea Moira // Shutterstock

#26. Early College Academy

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 201 (201:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A high school student doing a chemical experiment.
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#25. Volcano Vista High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 2,251 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.
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#24. Cleveland High School

- Location: Rio Rancho Public Schools, NM•
- Enrollment: 2,561 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A student raising their hand in class.
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#23. Artesia High School

- Location: Artesia Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 749 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.
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#22. Mission Achievement & Success Charter School

- Location: Mission Achievement & Success, NM
- Enrollment: 1,162 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#21. The Ask Academy

- Location: Rio Rancho, NM
- Enrollment: 564 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
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#20. Texico High School

- Location: Texico Municipal Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 166 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
A hallway lined with green lockers.
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#19. Public Academy for Performing Arts

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 434 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.
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#18. Albuquerque School of Excellence

- Location: Albuquerque, NM
- Enrollment: 855 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
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#17. Albuquerque High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 1,902 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table.
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#16. Eldorado High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 1,661 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#15. Dora High School

- Location: Dora Municipal Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 96 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.
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#14. The MASTERS Program

- Location: Santa Fe, NM
- Enrollment: 257 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
Students using microscopes in science class.
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

#13. Sandia High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 1,737 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
High school students studying and reading together in their school library.
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#12. College & Career High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 253 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
Students raising their hands for class participation.
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#11. Carlsbad Early College High School

- Location: Carlsbad Municipal Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 202 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.
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#10. Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science

- Location: Albuquerque, NM
- Enrollment: 354 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
Two students sharing a book.
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#9. Academy for Technology & the Classics

- Location: Santa Fe Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 397 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.
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#8. Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 803 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.
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#7. Mandela International Magnet School

- Location: Santa Fe Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 277 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.
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#6. Los Alamos High School

- Location: Los Alamos Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 886 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
Bookshelves at a high school's library.
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#5. San Juan College High School

- Location: Farmington Municipal Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 278 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#4. La Cueva High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 1,800 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
Two rows of red lockers.
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#3. East Mountain High School

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 363 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
Empty desks in a high school classroom.
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Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

#2. Nex+Gen Academy

- Location: Albuquerque Public Schools, NM•
- Enrollment: 273 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
A closeup of a student taking notes in class.
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#1. Arrowhead Park Early College High School

- Location: Las Cruces Public Schools, NM
- Enrollment: 327 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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