The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) announced that eight schools are no longer in school improvement status. Seven of them successfully exited More Rigorous Intervention (MRI) status, the state’s highest level of support for chronically struggling schools.
In a news release, the PED said that after multiple years of focused effort, the eight schools met academic improvement benchmarks. They also boosted graduation rates, where applicable, by strengthening leadership, using data to guide instruction, and providing targeted student support.
The eight schools include:
Albuquerque Public Schools: Mark Armijo Academy, Highland High School, Rio Grande High School, Siembra Leadership High School, Technology Leadership High School
Farmington Municipal Schools: Rocinante High School
Roswell Independent School District: University High School
PEC Charter School: Vista Grande High School
The PED supported their progress through on-site monitoring and structured reflections aligned with each school’s goals. It also provided professional learning and executive coaching to build strong systems, enhance leadership skills, and sustain long-term improvement.
How Did The Schools Improve Their Status?
Rio Grande High School and Highland High School in Albuquerque Public Schools exited MRI status after sustained gains in graduation rates. Their turnaround follows years of focused improvement, strengthened instructional leadership, and targeted PED coaching and monitoring.
Vista Grande High School, a state charter school, left MRI status through a systems-level approach that improved data use and expanded math and English language arts interventions. It also increased access to dual enrollment and career pathways. Bridges, UNM-Taos, and the Field Institute of Taos partnered with the school to enhance postsecondary and experiential learning opportunities. Meanwhile, the PED provided coaching and professional development.
“Exiting More Rigorous Intervention is no small feat,” said Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla. “These schools, their educators and their communities have committed to meaningful change to ensure more students cross the graduation stage ready for college or career. Their progress shows that with the right support, strong school leadership, and an unwavering focus on student success, more young people can earn their diplomas and build stronger futures right here in New Mexico.”
“Through intentional redesign of our systems, fostering reciprocal accountability, and providing meaningful support to our teachers, we’ve built a culture of shared responsibility and growth,” said Mark Armijo Academy Executive Director Shawn Morris. “While we celebrate exiting school improvement, we remain focused on sustaining progress and continuing to improve outcomes for our students, community and staff.”
More Students Graduating in New Mexico
Meanwhile, the PED declared that the statewide graduation rate rose 2.4 percentage points to 80.6%. The agency reported that this marks the highest rate in more than a decade.
In Gadsden Independent School District, Gadsden High School and Santa Teresa High School maintained high graduation rates for multiple years — about 89% in 2024 and 89.8% and 94.5%, respectively, in 2025. They did this by improving data collection, tracking attendance, and providing multi-layered student support. Both schools participate in Perkins and NextGen career technical education programs.
These developments reflect the dedication of teachers, school leaders, students, and families. Together, they worked to expand opportunities and improve outcomes for New Mexico students.