Total enrollment
84,916
-13,337 (-14%) vs SY 2017-18
Bernalillo County
New Mexico · Public K-12
Bernalillo County in New Mexico has 211 public K-12 schools in service today, collectively responsible for roughly 85,724 students with Albuquerque the largest district. That works out to 110 elementary, 32 middle, and 51 high schools.
7-year change in Bernalillo County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
201
+4 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
19%
was 22%
% Hispanic
66%
was 66%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
673,930
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
211
34 districts
Enrollment
85,724
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$69,473
Above New Mexico avg
Free/reduced lunch
90.3%
Above New Mexico avg
Elementary
110
37,107 students
Middle
32
12,419 students
High
51
26,917 students
Combined / other
18
9,281 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
ALBUQUERQUE
73,663 students · 34 districts in Bernalillo County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bernalillo County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
38.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
20.3% under 18
Test scores in Bernalillo County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 152 schools ranked. New Mexico state average: 44.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- LA MESA ELEMENTARY· 15.3%
- WHERRY ELEMENTARY· 15.7%
- KIRTLAND ELEMENTARY· 15.9%
- LOWELL ELEMENTARY· 16.5%
- VAN BUREN MIDDLE· 16.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQUOYAH | Albuquerque | High | 06-12 | 19 | · |
| HIGHLAND AUTISM CENTER | Albuquerque | Combined | PK-12 | 15 | · |
| CONTINUATION SCHOOL | Albuquerque | Combined | PK-12 | 5 | · |
| CAMINO NUEVO YOUTH | Albuquerque | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| CAREER ENRICHMENT | Albuquerque | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| CONNECTED | Albuquerque | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| NMSBVI ALBUQUERQUE CAMPUS | Albuquerque | Elementary | PK-KG | 0 | · |
| SIERRA ALTERNATIVE | Albuquerque | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| VISION QUEST ALTERNATIVE MIDDLE | Albuquerque | Middle | 06-08 | 0 | · |
| LA LUZ ELEMENTARY | Albuquerque | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| UNITED COMMUNITY ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL | Rio Rancho | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Bernalillo County
About Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County is a sizable county of about 673,930 residents in New Mexico. Its public-school system hosts approximately 85,724 students across 211 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $69,473, about 38% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 21% above the New Mexico median.
On the school-mix side, Bernalillo County consists of 110 elementary schools (37,107 students), 32 middle schools (12,419), 51 high schools (26,917), and 18 combined or other schools.
ALBUQUERQUE dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 73,663 students on its own.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 84,916 students, shrank 14% from the 98,253 reported in SY 2017-18. Bernalillo County now counts 201 public schools, up from 197 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment shrank from 22% to 19%.
On this page, the community for Bernalillo County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Bernalillo County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data