The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) has eliminated the “Excellence” designation that highlighted the best performing schools in the state from its accountability model.
This overhaul, part of PED’s ongoing effort to properly align with the state’s federally approved Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, comes as recent challenges forced necessary adjustments..
Because of the overhaul, New Mexico’s highest performing schools will no longer receive recognition for their work, and will fall under a less rigorous, more crowded designation.
Previously, the “Excellence” label recognized the top 10% of schools within the Vistas accountability system. However, a federal review during a site visit in August identified systemic errors in how this designation was applied. These discrepancies not only prompted confusion but also necessitated the re-issuance of 2022-2023 school accountability data.
Janelle Garcia, PED’s Deputy Director of Communications and Public Relations, said the removal was essential to streamline accountability and eliminate past inaccuracies that compromised educational transparency.
“The 2022-23 ESSA Accountability Model that was recently revised and released on May 20 [did] have the designation of excellence correctly applied and aligned with the 2019 Consolidated State Plan that was approved by [United States Department of Education],” Garcia explained. “However, prior to the revision, the designation of excellence had been applied incorrectly.”
Moving forward, high-performing schools will now fall under the less rigorous “Spotlight” designation, which recognizes the top 25 percent of schools in NM. Garcia said this would ensure clearer differentiation and targeted support across the educational spectrum.
Schools Affected by the Designation Removal
Albuquerque:
- Albuquerque School of Excellence
- Alvarado Elementary
- College and Career High School
- Coral Community Charter
- Corrales Elementary
- Cottonwood Classical Prep
- Coyote Willow Family School
- Dennis Chavez Elementary
- Desert Ridge Middle
- Desert Willow Family School
- Double Eagle Elementary
- Early College Academy
- East Mountain High School
- Eisenhower Middle
- Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary
- Hubert H. Humphrey Elementary
- La Cueva High
- Monte Vista Elementary
- New Mexico International School
- North Star Elementary
- Onate Elementary
- Osuna Elementary
- S. Y. Jackson Elementary
- Ventana Ranch Elementary
- Zia Elementary
- Collegiate Charter School
- Institute of Math & Science
Alamogordo:
- Buena Vista Elementary
- High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary
- Holloman Middle
- Sierra Elementary
Aldo Leopold Charter:
- Aldo Leopold Charter
Altura Preparatory School:
- Altura Preparatory School
Artesia:
- Penasco Elementary
Belen:
- Belen Family School
Carlsbad:
- Carlsbad Early College High
Cimarron:
- Cimarron Middle
Cloudcroft:
- Cloudcroft High
Clovis:
- Mesa Elementary
- Zia Elementary
Corona:
- Corona Elementary
Deming:
- Early College High School
Farmington:
- Country Club Elementary
- San Juan College High School
Gadsden:
- Alta Vista Early College High School
Grady:
- Grady Middle School
Grants:
- Bluewater Elementary
Las Cruces:
- Desert Hills Elementary
- Early College High School
- Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
- White Sands Elementary
Logan:
- Logan Elementary
Los Alamos:
- Aspen Elementary
- Barranca Mesa Elementary
- Chamisa Elementary
- Los Alamos High
- Los Alamos Middle
- Mountain Elementary
- Pinon Elementary
Maxwell:
- Maxwell Elementary
- Maxwell Middle
Melrose:
- Melrose High
- Melrose Junior
Moriarty-Edgewood:
- South Mountain Elementary
New Mexico School for Arts:
- New Mexico School for Arts
Quemado:
- Quemado Elementary
Reserve:
- Reserve Elementary
Rio Rancho:
- Rio Rancho Cyber Academy
Roswell:
- Sidney Gutierrez Middle
Roy:
- Roy Elementary
- Roy High
Santa Fe:
- Academy for Technology & Classics
- Acequia Madre Elementary
- Atalaya Elementary
- Carlos Gilbert Elementary
- El Dorado Community School
- Wood-Gormley Elementary
Silver City:
- Cliff Elementary
Taos:
- Anansi Charter School
- Taos Municipal Charter
Texico:
- Texico Elementary
- Texico Middle
The Ask Academy:
- The Ask Academy
The Masters Program:
- The Masters Program
West Las Vegas:
- CARE
