Demographic decline: New Mexico’s biggest problem?

The Albuquerque Journal has a VERY important article detailing the recent closure of two Catholic schools and two charter schools. It also asserts that Albuquerque Public Schools is closing schools, but there are still active websites for Duranes Elementary (now an early childcare center) and La Luz Elementary while Taft Middle School has changed to Coronado Dual Language Magnet Elementary School.

But, that’s not even the biggest problem. One of New Mexico’s biggest issues is the steep drop in our young population. Shockingly, according to the article, according to “APS Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey, the district is expecting a drop of about 1,500 students — as it has every year in recent memory — when the new school year starts Friday.”

That’s a loss of students the size of Sandia High School every single year.

The district is down more than 22,000 students in the last decade, from around 86,500 in 2015 to 63,700 last year. Combine a plummeting student population with unlimited funding thanks to the oil and gas boom and you get Albuquerque Public Schools spending an eye-popping $36,859 per student.

It is true that the decline in births is not JUST a New Mexico problem. Solutions to that are hard to come by. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. New Mexico policymakers including the next Governor (and legislators) need to come up with bold, innovative solutions to attracting and retaining families.

Gregg Hull’s plan to eliminate the income tax is a bold move. Cutting crime and improving education outcomes will also help. All of them are easily possible.

Deb Haaland’s plans are mostly “more of the same.”