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Educate. Advocate. Empower.

Public Charter Schools of New Mexico is the primary entity that supports and advocates for charter schools in the land of enchantment. It is the only state-wide professional organization serving New Mexico’s charter schools. Our mission is to increase student academic achievement by serving charter schools and advocating for charter school quality, growth, and autonomy.

PCSNM Annual Conference "HERE WE GROW!"

PCSNM is the recipient of a Charter School Program (CSP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  

See more here.

#BestForMe

Hear directly from New Mexico families and educators about how free, public charter schools are meeting the needs of their students and communities.

“Charter Schools are best for me and my family.”

Why Public Charter Schools?

FREE, PUBLIC, & OPEN TO ALL. Charter schools are free, public schools that are open to ALL students. They allow families to choose an educational option that best fits the needs of their child. There is never a cost to attend, and they are open to all students regardless of their school zoning. Charter schools offer the flexibility for teachers to provide innovative, high-quality instruction and to design classrooms personalized for students. These unique public schools are guided by leaders who have the flexibility to try new ideas and create a school culture that mirrors and supports the surrounding community. Public charter schools are independent, community-based, mission-driven, and accountable, following the same federal and state laws for finances and operations as traditional public schools.

Today, over 30,000 students attend a charter school in New Mexico, joining the approximately 3.7 million students who attend a public charter school in 41 states nationwide. New Mexico’s public charter schools are leading the way forward for innovation in public education, supporting unique school models such as individualized learning and STEM education. Charter schools provide college credit opportunities in high school, culturally relevant programs, and arts education. Most importantly, they act as the vehicle to reform the traditional “one size fits all” model of education.

Public Charter Schools in New Mexico


Community Locations


Students Served

Public Charter School Facts

What is a charter school?

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that accept all students and families who choose to enroll in them. In many cases, they are founded by people within the community who want to create options for families whose children may need something different.

How do they work?

A charter school is a tuition-free school that is publicly funded and independently run. In exchange for flexibilities from some state laws and regulations that govern traditional public schools, charters are bound to the terms of a contract, or "charter," that lays out a school's mission, academic goals, fiscal guidelines, and accountability requirements. On the other side of a charter contract is an authorizer that has the power to shut down charter schools that do not meet the terms of their contracts. There are locally authorized charter schools which are charter schools authorized and under contract with their local district. There are also state authorized charter schools which are authorized by the elected body of the Public Education Commission (PEC).

What makes charter schools different?

Because every charter school is founded for a different reason, they are all unique. Some charter schools have science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum or an arts focus, others use a Montessori learning model or a college-prep focus, and some are dual credit- offering college credit while in high school, and others provide career training.

Who can attend charter schools?

Families choose to send their children to the charter school of their choice. If the demand for enrollment in a charter school exceeds space, enrollment is subject to a lottery. Think of it this way - if a charter school can serve 100 students in 6th grade and 200 students apply to 6th grade, the school must have a fair way to enroll students.

Are charter schools for my family?

Charter schools can serve children in any grade, pre-K through 12th, and some offer other programs like GED courses or classes for adults who didn’t have the opportunity to graduate high school earlier.

Contact

Email - info@pcsnm.org
Telephone - 505.842.8203
PO Box 25284
Albuquerque, NM 87125
© 2024 Public Charter Schools of New Mexico

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