High school learning extends beyond the classroom, and students need opportunities to explore potential career paths early. To support this goal, Albuquerque Public Schools is moving from the planning phase to implementing the “Academies of Albuquerque.” Through this initiative, APS continues its efforts to transform the high school experience.
The district completed a productive year of collaborative design and is now scaling the program. It aims to provide students with clearer pathways, stronger community connections, and real-world skills.
The initiative focuses on integrating academic and technical skills. It represents a significant shift in how the district supports students from their freshman year through graduation.
APS launched Freshman Academies at three high schools during last school year. This fall, the district will expand the program to nine schools. APS aims to implement the program by the 2027-2028 school year.
“You have to get started before you can build it out and cascade it throughout the grade levels,” Dr. Randy Mahlerwein, deputy superintendent for leadership and learning. He made the statement at a recent gathering of design teams and community partners at Cibola High School.
“With this work, we’re going to be able to springboard into the next steps, where I think we can reasonably say we could be close to scale by the end of 2027-2028,” he said.
Creating Pathways to Student Success
Thirteen design teams comprising educators, administrators, students and community partners developed the redesign. The teams designed critical components, including Freshman Academies, Career and Technical Education programs, and student capstone projects. The initiative aims to move students beyond simply taking courses. It engages them in relevant, hands-on learning that aligns with a newly defined “profile of a graduate.”
APS and the United Way of North Central New Mexico have formed a partnership to support the transformation. Rodney Prunty, president and CEO of the United Way, said this cross-sector collaboration is essential for long-term success.
“When you win, our kids win, and when our kids win, our community wins,” Prunty told APS educators. “It is a different way of doing business, but it is transformative in the way that we get the results that we actually seek to achieve.”
The initiative’s framework emphasizes consistency. The Freshman Academies serve as its foundation. They help students transition from middle school to high school, foster a sense of belonging, and connect them with support systems early on. They also strive to provide students opportunities to explore potential career paths. As students progress, the academies connect them to career pathways, internships, and dual-credit opportunities that support post-secondary success.
APS is now turning these design concepts into tangible implementation strategies. The district is aligning instructional shifts with the needs of diverse student populations. APS is also creating robust data systems to track student progress and partnership engagement, and strengthening professional development for teachers.
Teachers Externships
Several APS high school educators are participating in “externships” this summer. Through the program, they spend a day with an industry partner learning about different careers. These job-shadowing opportunities give educators firsthand insight into the daily work of community partners. Teachers can use the experience to gain new perspectives and develop ideas for interdisciplinary lessons.
“I’m just trying to learn as much about trades as possible so I can talk to (students),” said Agusta Rodriguez Asi. She is a counselor at Cibola High School, who recently spent a day with HB Construction employees.
“I just want to know a little bit more about career technical education and how to guide students who aren’t college-bound,” she said.
Rebecca Latham, with HB Construction, lauded the program.
“I applaud APS for taking the initiative to do something so bold and exciting,” she said. “This is just such a wonderful program to really start getting our kids thinking about their career.”
As APS advances the initiative, it continues to keep students at the center of its efforts. The district is embedding these academies within its comprehensive high schools. Through the initiative, APS aims to equip every student with direction, a strong support network, and future-ready skills.