For the 2026 school year, there are 45 alternative public schools serving 4,356 students in New Mexico.
The top-ranked alternative public schools in New Mexico are Coyote Willow Family School, Desert Willow Family School and Chrysalis Alternative. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
New Mexico alternative public schools have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the New Mexico public school average of 25%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 34% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Mexico public school average of 81% (majority Hispanic).
Best Alternative Public Schools in New Mexico (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Coyote Willow Family School
Alternative School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
7125 Irving Blvd Nw
Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 253-0050
Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 253-0050
Gr: K-8 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #22.
Desert Willow Family School
Alternative School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3303 Monroe Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 888-1647
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 888-1647
Gr: K-8 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #33.
Chrysalis Alternative
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
134 Cervantes
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 758-5202
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 758-5202
Gr: 7-12
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Century Alt High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
32 Sun Valley Rd
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 866-8231
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 866-8231
Gr: 9-12 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 39:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
Freedom High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5200 Cutler Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 884-6012
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 884-6012
Gr: 9-12 | 111 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #4 - 64. - 6.
School On Wheels High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
129 Hartline Rd Sw
Albuquerque, NM 87105
(505) 243-2395
Albuquerque, NM 87105
(505) 243-2395
Gr: 9-12 | 65 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
New Futures High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5400 Cutler Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 883-5680
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 883-5680
Gr: 7-12 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Vision Quest Alternative Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5401 Glenrio Rd Nw
Albuquerque, NM 87105
(505) 352-0343
Albuquerque, NM 87105
(505) 352-0343
Gr: 6-8
Rank: #7 - 97. - 9.
Wlv Family Partnership
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1341 South Gonzales St
Las Vegas, NM 87701
(505) 426-2559
Las Vegas, NM 87701
(505) 426-2559
Gr: 7-12 | 30 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1010.
Belen Family School
Alternative School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4 Eastside School Road
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2270
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-2270
Gr: 1-8 | 154 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1111.
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
950 South Walnut St
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 527-6059
Las Cruces, NM 88001
(575) 527-6059
Gr: 6-8 | 94 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1212.
Vista Nueva High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
315 South Ash
Aztec, NM 87410
(575) 334-9474
Aztec, NM 87410
(575) 334-9474
Gr: 9-12 | 68 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1313.
Taos Cyber Magnet
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-59% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
310 Camino De La Placita
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 758-5202
Taos, NM 87571
(575) 758-5202
Gr: 9-12 | 12 students Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Foothill High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
400 Edith Blvd Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 841-2400
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 841-2400
Gr: 6-12 | 57 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Sequoyah
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3405 Pan American Fwy
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 222-0355
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 222-0355
Gr: 6-12 | 19 students Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1616.
Career Prep Alternative
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
West Hwy 64
Shiprock, NM 87420
(505) 368-4980
Shiprock, NM 87420
(505) 368-4980
Gr: 9-12 | 118 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1717.
University High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
25 Martin Street
Roswell, NM 88201
(575) 627-2750
Roswell, NM 88201
(575) 627-2750
Gr: 9-12 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1818.
Los Lunas Family School
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
111 Monica Road
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 866-8231
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 866-8231
Gr: K-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1919.
Desert Sage Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2504 Camino Entrada
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 467-0310
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 467-0310
Gr: K-12 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Belen Infinity High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
221 S 4th St
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1500
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 966-1500
Gr: 9-12 | 112 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
New Hope Alternative High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
601 North 5th St
Lovington, NM 88260
(575) 739-2415
Lovington, NM 88260
(575) 739-2415
Gr: 9-12 | 104 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2222.
Independence High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
421 Quantum Rd Ne
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
(505) 338-4658
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
(505) 338-4658
Gr: 9-12 | 156 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Gallup Central Alternative
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
325 Marguerite St
Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 721-1051
Gallup, NM 87301
(505) 721-1051
Gr: 6-12 | 1,244 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2355 Avenida De Mesilla
Mesilla, NM 88046
(575) 527-6058
Mesilla, NM 88046
(575) 527-6058
Gr: 9-12 | 46 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #2525.
Carlsbad Enrichment Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
406 N. Alameda Street
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575) 234-3300
Gr: 1-12 | 170 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2626.
Rocinante High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3250 East 30th St
Farmington, NM 87401
(505) 599-8627
Farmington, NM 87401
(505) 599-8627
Gr: 6-12 | 133 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2727.
Charlie Y. Brown Alt
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
924 South Bloomfield Blvd
Bloomfield, NM 87413
(505) 634-3940
Bloomfield, NM 87413
(505) 634-3940
Gr: 9-12 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2828.
Desert Pride Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
100 Shrode Rd
Anthony, NM 88021
(575) 882-0142
Anthony, NM 88021
(575) 882-0142
Gr: 7-12 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2929.
Academy Del Sol Alt.
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1200 N Florida Ave Bldg C
Alamogordo, NM 88310
(575) 812-5500
Alamogordo, NM 88310
(575) 812-5500
Gr: 10-12
Rank: n/an/a
Aztec Youth Academy
Alternative School
10015 Robert Larnson
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 526-5900
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 526-5900
Gr: 9-12 | 33 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: n/an/a
Camino Nuevo Youth
Alternative School
4050 Edith Blvd Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 841-2400
Albuquerque, NM 87107
(505) 841-2400
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
Career Enrichment
Alternative School
807 Mountain Rd Ne
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 247-3658
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 247-3658
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Central Nm Corrections
Alternative School
1525 Morris Rd
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 383-3359
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 383-3359
Gr: 8-12 | 1 student Student-teacher ratio: 1:1
Rank: n/an/a
Guadalupe County Corrections
Alternative School
South Hwy 54
Santa Rosa, NM 88435
(575) 472-1001
Santa Rosa, NM 88435
(575) 472-1001
Gr: 8-12 | 1 student
Rank: n/an/a
Lae County Corrections
Alternative School
6900 West Millen Dr
Hobbs, NM 88240
(575) 392-4055
Hobbs, NM 88240
(575) 392-4055
Gr: 8-12 | 7 students Minority enrollment: 57%
Show 10 more Alternative public schools in New Mexico (out of 45 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked alternative public schools in New Mexico?
The top-ranked alternative public schools in New Mexico include Coyote Willow Family School, Desert Willow Family School and Chrysalis Alternative.
How many alternative public schools are located in New Mexico?
45 alternative public schools are located in New Mexico.
What is the racial composition of students in New Mexico?
New Mexico alternative public schools minority enrollment is 76% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Mexico public schools average of 81% (majority Hispanic).
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