How significant is Albuquerque Public Schools’ first-ever early childhood center? Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey said the new facility is worth celebrating, stressing its impact on young children and the district.
In her weekly message, Durán Blakey outlined two key reasons why she considers the opening of the Duranes Early Childhood Center an important milestone.
First, she said the facility invests in the district’s youngest learners. It will prepare more children for kindergarten while giving families greater access to educational services in their community.
The APS chief said studies consistently show high-quality preschool programs equips students better for school. These learners also experience substantial learning gains compared with similar children who do not attend preschool.
“A review of that research published by the Learning Policy Institute a few years ago highlighted positive effects on children’s early literacy and mathematics skills, two of the key areas we’re focused on improving at APS,” Durán Blakey said.
Second, she said the new center directly results from the district’s right-sizing efforts. It also shows how APS strategically repurposes facilities to meet student and community needs.
“Rather than maintaining underutilized space, we are creating new opportunities for families,” she said.
What the Duranes Early Childhood Center Offers
According to Durán Blakey, the opening of Duranes reflects APS’ broader commitment to maximizing opportunities for students. It also helps strengthen neighborhood schools and support the district’s long-term sustainability.
For the APS chief, the center is an example of how APS can thoughtfully adapt to changing enrollment patterns. She added it allows them to invest in programs that meaningfully improve student outcomes.
The Duranes Early Childhood Center opened as a full inclusion campus. Four of its classrooms serve New Mexico Pre-K and five serve special education preschool learners. The facility can expand from nine to 12 classrooms.
More than a school, the center will provide a comprehensive hub for the community. The campus will operate as a lab school in collaboration with the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. UNM will have one classroom dedicated to its use.
Families will also have access to a full-time community school impact coordinator and a dedicated Child Find team. These staff members will help them connect to support services and early intervention resources.
Building the Duranes Early Childhood Center
“This project was made possible by the support of our voters and the state,” Durán Blakey said.
APS worked with SMPC architects and Bradbury Stamm construction to replace the old main building. The district used its “kit of parts” model to build a 36,463-square-foot facility.
“We invested about $36 million into transforming this historic 1947 site,” the APS chief said.
The modern campus features 12 classrooms organized into three clusters. Each cluster has its own playgrounds and common areas, while the campus also includes new administrative, wellness, and cafeteria wings.
Beyond the new construction, the renovation preserved and updated 10,051 square feet of existing space. The updated space now includes a teacher resource wing and multipurpose areas for before-and-after school programming. It also houses offices for specialized support staff, including speech-language pathologists, social workers, and psychologists.
“This initiative aligns seamlessly with our state’s ongoing efforts to expand pre-K and early childhood opportunities across New Mexico.State investments in early education reflect a clear understanding that early intervention yields profound, long-term dividends for our children,” Durán Blakey said. “At APS, we share this unwavering commitment to laying a strong foundation for future student success.”
