Albuquerque Public Schools Yazzie-Martinez students dip in math proficiency, mixed results in literacy

Underserved eighth grade students in Albuquerque Public Schools are not hitting the goals the Board of Education set for them in math proficiency, according to a monthlong report delivered by district leadership Wednesday.

The board also received a report that showed mixed results in early literacy goals, specifically the number of first and second graders reading proficiently. However, that report found that some students were hitting their goals.

The first, second and eighth graders monitored in each report are “Yazzie-Martinez students,” defined by the 2018 landmark ruling that determined New Mexico was not providing its underserved students with an adequate education.

The state defines Yazzie-Martinez students as those who are low-income, Native American, special needs or English language learners.

District data shows that 10.8% of eighth grade APS students in the Yazzie-Martinez group displayed math proficiency, which is projected to drop to 10.7% this school year. The goal set for them in the 2024-25 school year was 13.1% and 15.1% for this year.

The setback shows that the district is off track for its goal of increasing the percentage of eighth-grade Yazzie-Martinez students proficient in math to 21.1% by May 2028. The 10.8% figure for the 2024-25 school year also shows a decline of 2 percentage points from the previous year.

By comparison, 54.5% of all APS eighth grade students displayed proficiency in math last year.

Compared to the other monitored Yazzie-Martinez student groups, the percentage of Black students proficient in math jumped by nearly 10 percentage points from the 2023-24 to 2024-25 school year, to 17.3%. While the state does not define Black students as part of the Yazzie-Martinez population, APS monitors their progress alongside the defined student group.

The board voted 6-1 to accept the monitoring report on math. Josefina Domínguez was the lone vote against, citing a lack of growth in proficiency scores.

The next report the board received was on early literacy.

A report on the number of Yazzie-Martinez first graders was on par with the target set the previous school year — but an early assessment this year shows that figure has slipped.

For the 2024-25 school year, 23.2% of first-graders were reading proficiently at the end of the year. The goal is set at 23%. On the assessment administered this school year, 18.3% of Yazzie-Martinez first graders displayed reading proficiency.

Of second grade Yazzie-Martinez students, 25.7% displayed proficiency in reading at the end of last school year. During an early assessment this year, 26.4% displayed reading proficiency — a full 2 percentage points ahead of the goal set for them at 24.3%.

The board voted unanimously to accept the reports on early literacy.

Superintendent Gabriella Blakey was not present for Wednesday’s meeting. Antonio Gonzales, the district’s deputy superintendent of operations, was acting superintendent.