New Mexico's high school graduation rate climbs to highest number in over a decade

New Mexico’s four-year high school graduation rate at public and charter schools rose 2.4 percentage points in 2025 to 80.6%, the state’s highest rate in more than a decade.

This puts New Mexico in 36th out of the 39 states and District of Columbia that have already reported graduation data for last school year.

Graduation rates for almost every demographic across the state showed small gains since 2024, though rates for some groups, like Native American and Black students, still fell below the state number. Native American students graduated high school in four years at a rate of around 78% last school year, while Black students graduated at a rate of 76.4%, according to data from the Public Education Department released Friday.

PED data shows homeless students and students in foster care graduated high school at rates far below their peers. Homeless students graduated in four years 63.2% of the time, while students in foster care graduated in four years only about 40% of the time.

Male students also graduated just over two points below the state rate, while female students graduated more than two points above it.

Statewide, Los Alamos Public Schools reported the highest graduation rate of any district or charter at 97.1%. 

Las Montañas Charter High School — now called Sendero School of Academic and Career Preparation — a career and technical education school in Las Cruces, logged the lowest graduation rate of any district or charter at 26.6%.

Albuquerque Public Schools recorded a graduation rate of 76.8%, not including its charter schools, nearly four points below the state rate, but up almost one percentage point from the 2023-24 school year. 

“We’re happy that our graduation rate continues to improve but know there’s still more work to be done,” APS Superintendent Gabriella Blakey said in a statement. “Toward that end, we’re partnering with our community to reimagine the high school experience and make it more engaging for students.”

APS graduation rates have steadily increased each year since the 2021-22 school year, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to district spokesperson Martin Salazar.

La Cueva High School had the district's highest public school graduation rate of 89.5%, while Freedom High School, APS's alternative credit recovery high school, reported the lowest, at 29.4%.

Eight New Mexico high schools have also graduated from “more rigorous intervention status,” the state’s highest level of support for chronically struggling schools, according to the PED. Five are part of APS: Mark Armijo Academy, Highland High School, Rio Grande High School, Siembra Leadership High School and Technology Leadership High School. 

Rio Grande and Highland moved out of the lowest tier after sustained gains in graduation rates, PED officials said.

The three other schools no longer on “more rigorous intervention status” are Rocinante High School in Farmington, University High School in Roswell and Vista Grande High School in Taos. 

Graduating from the highest intervention level is “no small feat,” Public Education Secretary Mariana Padilla said in a statement. 

“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,” Padilla said.

Natalie Robbins covers education for the Journal. You can reach her at nrobbins@abqjournal.com.