Albuquerque Public Schools adopts massive budget spending $36,859 per-student
The Albuquerque Journal does a fantastic job in their article on the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) budget in terms of providing context. Among many impacts Rio Grande Foundation has had over the years, helping to transform how the media covers the size of education budgets is one of the big ones.
As the Journal points out:
- APS’ budget shakes out to a cost of about $36,859 per student — (that’s 22% more expensive than the $30,118-a-year tuition at the area’s most expensive private school, Albuquerque Academy).
- APS’ operating scale is so large, its budget surpasses the city of Albuquerque’s projected budget for next fiscal year by 60%, or $880 million.
- More than 20% of the entire New Mexico state budget for next fiscal year will go to APS.
- APS’ enrollment is down 20% from pre-pandemic levels (even as budgets continue to grow). The district had 63,726 students enrolled on the 40th day of this school year, down from 80,109 in 2019.
- The $2.35 billion total budget includes capital outlay funds — next year, APS has allotted almost $729 million for construction and renovation. The district plans to build a new special education facility on Albuquerque’s West Side, which will cost an estimated $15 million funded through bonds.
A few thoughts:
- The amount of money APS (and New Mexico) spends has grown with no impact on student outcomes;
- APS spends MORE per-pupil than ANY private school in New Mexico. Obviously results have not kept pace;
- APS and NM’s Legislature/PED could easily “right-size” the District’s footprint in terms of buildings and employees, but has no incentive to do so;
- APS’ enrollment is going to go down much further for the foreseeable future. A rational approach MUST be developed in order to at least allocate the District’s considerable resources to worthwhile spending.