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Montessori Of The Rio Grande

Q: Is Montessori Of The Rio Grande a good school?

Yes. Montessori Of The Rio Grande ranks in the top 8.4% of New Mexico elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Montessori Of The Rio Grande?

In the 2024-25 school year, 219 students attended Montessori Of The Rio Grande.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Montessori Of The Rio Grande?

Students at Montessori Of The Rio Grande are 44% White, 39% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 5% American Indian, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Public, Charter Grades K-5

29^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 346 New Mexico Elementary Schools

Better than 92% of New Mexico elementary schools

Summary

Montessori Of The Rio Grande is a K–5 elementary school serving 219 students at 1650 Gabaldon Dr. N.W. on Albuquerque's near-northwest side, part of Albuquerque Public Schools. Its headline standing for 2025–2026 is a rank of 29th out of 346 New Mexico elementary schools — the 92nd percentile, with 5 stars — the highest mark in its available history, and a striking contrast with its own district, which ranks 55th of 87 districts statewide (37th percentile, 2 stars).

Students at Montessori Of The Rio Grande are roughly twice as likely to be proficient as the state average: 85.19% in English language arts versus 43.34% statewide, 48.15% in math versus 25.54%, and 62.86% in fifth-grade science versus 31.97%. It is also the clear top performer in its immediate neighborhood — among the eight APS schools within about 2.3 miles, none reaches even 50% ELA proficiency, with Griegos Elementary closest at 48.00%. Smaller classes do not explain the gap: Lew Wallace Elementary, Reginald Chavez Elementary and Duranes Elementary all have smaller classes and still rank in the bottom third of the state. The one nearby school that beats it anywhere is Horizon Academy West, a charter PK–5 that outperforms it in math (60.00% vs. 48.15%) but trails in ELA and science. Its own 37-point spread between ELA and math is the widest in this comparison, with fourth grade the pressure point at 35.14% in math.

The improvement story is durable: proficiency rose in every reporting year from 2022–23 to 2025–26, with math gaining faster than ELA. Subgroup results suggest the school is not carried by one population — special education students rank in the 83rd percentile statewide, up from the 54th in 2021–22. The school reports 21% free/reduced-price lunch, far below the 99–100% at nearly every neighboring APS school, though that figure has swung sharply from year to year and should be read with caution.

219

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,950

Per pupil spending ?

21%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1650 Gabaldon Dr. N.W.
Albuquerque, NM 87104

(505) 842-5993

District: Albuquerque Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.3%

Hispanic:

38.8%

Asian:

6.8%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 48th percentile in 2015 → 92nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Mexico average (66% vs 36% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of New Mexico elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 44 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school66%

District avg36%

New Mexico avg36%

29^th of 346

New Mexico public elementary schools ?

Top 8%▲ up 48 pts since 2016

From bottom 43% (2016) to top 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Mexico Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 77Elementary Schools in the Albuquerque Public Schools

55^th of 87Albuquerque Public Schools among New Mexico districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	89.0	29 of 346	91.6%	★★★★★
2025	78.4	50 of 345	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	83.8	53 of 413	87.2%	★★★★☆
2023	88.1	56 of 435	87.1%	★★★★☆
2022	88.1	37 of 420	91.2%	★★★★★
2019	79.6	53 of 396	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	61.5	118 of 383	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	47.1	175 of 374	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	40.4	232 of 410	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.0	221 of 421	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	67.5	123 of 442	72.2%	★★★★☆
2013	80.8	57 of 412	86.2%	★★★★☆
2012	83.2	44 of 398	88.9%	★★★★☆
2011	67.2	112 of 402	72.1%	★★★★☆
2010	49.7	203 of 419	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	68.9	107 of 411	74.0%	★★★★☆
2008	62.5	121 of 405	70.1%	★★★★☆
2007	56.7	161 of 398	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	75.7	42 of 252	83.3%	★★★★☆
2024	83.8	44 of 398	88.9%	★★★★☆
2023	78.8	77 of 390	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	36 of 395	90.9%	★★★★★
2019	78.6	44 of 343	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	69.3	77 of 339	77.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	94.5	8 of 273	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	86.3	39 of 384	89.8%	★★★★★
2023	69.4	104 of 395	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	93.4	14 of 389	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	75.6	45 of 320	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	66.9	84 of 329	74.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	65.4	97 of 356	72.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	85.5	23 of 251	90.8%	★★★★★
2024	84.7	41 of 397	89.7%	★★★★☆
2023	92.0	39 of 414	90.6%	★★★★★
2022	87.1	26 of 392	93.4%	★★★★★
2019	81.4	34 of 337	89.9%	★★★★★
2018	69.4	67 of 333	79.9%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2024	77.4	27 of 158	82.9%	★★★★☆
2022	48.6	61 of 132	53.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Mexico percentile	Rating
2026	85.2	33 of 304	89.1%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	60 of 304	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	75.0	63 of 339	81.4%	★★★★☆
2023	84.2	66 of 413	84.0%	★★★★☆
2022	72.0	56 of 325	82.8%	★★★★☆
2019	66.4	54 of 199	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	58.8	74 of 187	60.4%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2026)97th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)91st percentile~ school

White (2026)89th percentile~ school

Female (2026)83rd percentile-8 vs school

Special Education (2024)83rd percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)73rd percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs New Mexico (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts85%+41 vs state

Science63%+31 vs state

Mathematics48%+20 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, February 22, 2016

Awful school!!! This school focuses on raising money and parent volunteer hours. The teachers do not teach most kids are behind. Zero structure and discipline. The 1-3 teacher Matt does not communicate. The principal does not enforce the teachers to follow up with parents and allows them to get behind she believes in "waiting and believing in the program". Some teachers are only Montessori certified and not licensed teachers. The school charges for after school clubs as much as they can and cuts them short after they've been paid. This school lacks technology public schools provide. No gym, cafeteria, lunch or breakfast. All food brought must be compliant or the kid can't eat it not even jello when they are sick. This school will try and sell you on it, and convince you it's great just don't pay attention or be observant and you can believe it. Awful awful school self inflated and not worth the one star!!!! Close Quote

Schools Near Montessori Of The Rio Grande

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NM-ASR Science (2026)			NM-MSSA English Language Arts (2026)							NM-MSSA Mathematics (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NM-ASR Science 5th Grade	NM-ASR Science 8th Grade	NM-ASR Science All Grades	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NM-MSSA English Language Arts All Grades	NM-MSSA Mathematics 3rd Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 4th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 5th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 6th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 7th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics 8th Grade	NM-MSSA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Montessori Of The Rio Grande	Public, Charter	K-5	1650 Gabaldon Dr. N.W.	Albuquerque	87104	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(505) 842-5993	219	19	11.7	21.0%	97 (44.3%)	3 (1.4%)	85 (38.8%)	15 (6.8%)	11 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.7%)	89	29^th of 346 public elementary schools	91.6%		78.4	50^th of 345 public elementary schools	85.5%	21	62.9			86.1	78.4	91.4				85.2	50.0	35.1	60.0				48.2	$8,950
Duranes Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2436 Zickert Rd NW	Albuquerque	87104	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 764-2017	34	8	4.3	100.0%	8 (23.5%)	2 (5.9%)	21 (61.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																		$13,582
Reginald Chavez Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 Mountain Rd NW	Albuquerque	87104	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 764-2008	174	20	8.7	100.0%	12 (6.9%)	6 (3.4%)	146 (83.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	27	255^th of 346 public elementary schools	26.3%		29.7	223^rd of 345 public elementary schools	35.4%	32	22.9				32.3	42.9				33.7		< 20%	28.6				19.8	$11,074
Christine Duncan Heritage Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1900 Atrisco Dr. NW	Albuquerque	87120	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 839-4971	534	38	14.0	71.0%	22 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	509 (95.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24.5	270^th of 346 public elementary schools	22.0%		19.9	297^th of 345 public elementary schools	13.9%	27	13.6	< 20%	9.5	43.4	48.2	24.6	34.2	33.3	32.6	36.1	20.4	20.4	27.6	22.0	20.4	< 20%	19.2	$9,587
Cochiti Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3100 San Isidro Rd NW	Albuquerque	87107	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 345-1432	247	22	11.1	99.6%	13 (5.3%)	9 (3.6%)	209 (84.6%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.6%)	26.6	259^th of 346 public elementary schools	25.1%		27.2	237^th of 345 public elementary schools	31.3%	22	36.8			31.3	30.8	39.5				34.4	21.9		18.4				16.7	$10,819
Griegos Elementary	Public	K-5	4040 San Isidro NW	Albuquerque	87107	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 345-3661	229	19	12.3	99.1%	39 (17.0%)	2 (0.9%)	183 (79.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	44.5	175^th of 346 public elementary schools	49.4%		59.2	105^th of 345 public elementary schools	69.6%	70	28.6			47.5	62.8	33.3				48.0	20.0	39.5	31.7				30.7	$9,470
Lavaland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	501 57th St NW	Albuquerque	87105	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 836-4911	369	33	11.1	100.0%	19 (5.1%)	8 (2.2%)	329 (89.2%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)								(n/a)	< 20%		< 20%	14.3	32.2	< 20%				20.8	< 20%	< 20%	< 20%				4.4	$8,894
Susie Rayos Marmon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1800 72nd St NW	Albuquerque	87120	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 831-5400	507	43	11.7	100.0%	50 (9.9%)	12 (2.4%)	388 (76.5%)	10 (2.0%)	36 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.2%)	9.9	338^th of 346 public elementary schools	2.3%		18	307^th of 345 public elementary schools	11.0%	31	15.8			29.0	29.7	26.0				28.2	< 10%	< 10%	9.1				8.1	$9,619
Lew Wallace Elementary	Public	K-5	513 Sixth St NW	Albuquerque	87102	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 848-9409	141	18	8.0	99.3%	11 (7.8%)	7 (5.0%)	106 (75.2%)	2 (1.4%)	10 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.5%)								(n/a)					64.7	37.5				37.7							20.3	$10,594
Chaparral Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6325 Milne Rd NW	Albuquerque	87120	Bernalillo County	Albuquerque Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(505) 831-3301	523	45	11.5	99.4%	70 (13.4%)	15 (2.9%)	389 (74.4%)	10 (1.9%)	21 (4.0%)	2 (0.4%)	16 (3.1%)	23.8	273^rd of 346 public elementary schools	21.1%		22.1	281^st of 345 public elementary schools	18.6%	8	25.0			28.8	51.5	35.9				39.3	15.3	16.2	23.4				18.3	$11,491

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