For the first time in more than a decade, New Mexico is changing what it takes to graduate from high school. In an overhaul that state leaders believe will make “learning more relevant to students’ lives,” a new personalized requirement has come to light.
Starting with the Class of 2029, Algebra II, long a flashpoint in education debates, will no longer be required for everyone. Although districts are still required to offer the course, students can now choose other math classes that better match their career plans or personal interests.
The standard requirement of 24 credits, which includes 4 years of English and Math to earn a diploma, remains the same.
This change was signed into law in 2024 under House Bill 171. The law gives each district and charter school the power to set two elective credits of their own, tailored to local needs. Supporters say it marks a shift away from a one-size-fits-all checklist toward a more flexible system.
“It’s really connecting students to like why they go to school, and really finding what their own passions and interests are, and not making every student’s career path in high school look the same,” said Gabriella Durán Blakey, superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools.
One thing that the public needs to know about this overhaul is that the state’s core requirements remain largely intact: three years of science and four years of social science. The social studies sequence must now include U.S. history and geography (with New Mexico history woven in), world history and geography, and a government and economics course that incorporates personal financial literacy.
Albuquerque, the state’s largest district, will go further. Starting in 2025–26, it will require a half-credit in Personal Financial Literacy and add 1.5 extra elective credits.
Amanda DeBell, a deputy secretary at the Public Education Department, said that flexibility will allow districts to shape courses around their communities. “For example, we see districts offering more agricultural-type electives… or we see additional language courses being added as a requirement,” she said.
New Mexico’s graduation rules had not been updated since 2009. In earlier reform attempts, Algebra II was the sticking point — viewed by some as essential preparation for college math, and by others as an unnecessary hurdle for students headed into other fields.
The decision to drop it as a blanket requirement follows a national trend. For example, Oregon now uses a “2+1” model, where the third math credit can be filled with classes like data science or quantitative reasoning. Florida requires Algebra 1 and Geometry, but allows other rigorous math courses in place of Algebra II.
Financial literacy mandates are also spreading. According to the nonprofit Next Gen Personal Finance, 27 states now require a stand-alone course in personal finance for graduation. Advocates say these classes teach vital skills for adulthood, while critics warn that quality depends on how well they are taught.
Districts have little time to act. This fall’s first-year students will be the first to graduate under the new rules, and schools must decide within weeks which locally designed electives they will offer.
