According to budget figures from Albuquerque Public Schools, APS spending has grown significantly over the past decade. In the 2014–2015 school year, the district budget stood at approximately $1.37 billion. The proposed 2026–2027 budget is now projected at roughly $2.35 billion, an increase of nearly a billion dollars annually.
At the same time, New Mexico continues to rank near the bottom nationally in education outcomes. Reading and math proficiency remain low, and too many students are graduating unprepared for college, careers, or skilled trades. Parents and taxpayers have every right to question why the current system is failing and why elected officials are doing little to change that.
More spending without accountability is not a strategy. Real reform means focusing on classroom quality, student outcomes, parental involvement, and ensuring education dollars reach students in meaningful ways. New Mexico families are not asking for anything unreasonable; they are asking for schools that successfully prepare children for the future.
