Enrollment
801
New Mexico · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Albuquerque, NM
Desert Ridge Middle
Federal NCES profile for Desert Ridge Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 350006000764
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Ridge Middle earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New Mexico schools.
- #8 of 28
- middle schools in Albuquerque · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 14.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Ridge Middle has class sizes near the New Mexico median. Computed live against every New Mexico school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Ridge Middle ranks #8 of 28 middle schools in Albuquerque, NM.
School address
District: Albuquerque Public Schools · New Mexico
NCES ID 350006000764 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
59.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 14:1 New Mexico avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
14.8%
vs 80.8% New Mexico avg
-82% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Desert Ridge Middle compares with New Mexico and U.S. medians
What stands out at Desert Ridge Middle
Desert Ridge Middle is a lower-poverty, large middle school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, enrolling 801 students.
At 13.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the New Mexico median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 14.8% free-meal eligibility runs 82% below the New Mexico average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in New Mexico, bigger than 93% of state schools at 801 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 867 scored New Mexico schools.
Against 30 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #9.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (37%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 320 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 24.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Albuquerque Public Schools spends $12,964 per pupil, 22% below the New Mexico average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Albuquerque Public Schools also operates Volcano Vista High (2,089 students) and Atrisco Heritage Academy Hs (1,930 students) alongside Desert Ridge Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Desert Ridge Middle compares
Desert Ridge Middle on the metrics families compare, against New Mexico and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Mexico | New Mexico avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 3% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.8% | ▼ 82% | 80.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 801 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
801
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
14.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 82% below the New Mexico average of 80.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 53% in New Mexico - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,964
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Mexico avg of $16,652
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 320 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 26 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 39.5%
Hispanic or Latino 36.8%
Asian 10.2%
Two or More 8.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
African American 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 39.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Desert Ridge Middle is more mixed than the New Mexico school average of 39.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Albuquerque Public Schools, which includes Desert Ridge Middle.
$12,964
Per student
-22%
vs New Mexico
Avg $16,652
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 17.5%
State 68.0%
Federal 14.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Desert Ridge Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volcano Vista High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Atrisco Heritage Academy Hs | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| La Cueva High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sandia High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eldorado High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Ridge Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,930
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 1,826
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,618
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,579
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Mexico, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~801 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Desert Ridge Middle's federal record.
- Compare Desert Ridge Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Albuquerque Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Desert Ridge Middle
How many students attend Desert Ridge Middle?
Desert Ridge Middle has 801 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Albuquerque, NM.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Middle is 13.6:1, which is 3% lower than the New Mexico average of 14:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Ridge Middle?
14.8% of students at Desert Ridge Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Mexico average of 80.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Ridge Middle?
The largest demographic group at Desert Ridge Middle is White at 39.5% of enrollment, in Albuquerque, NM. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Ridge Middle?
Desert Ridge Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Ridge Middle rank among middle schools in Albuquerque?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Ridge Middle ranks #8 of 28 middle schools in Albuquerque, NM. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Albuquerque on the city page.
Is Desert Ridge Middle a good school?
Desert Ridge Middle earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Mexico median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New Mexico schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Albuquerque Public Schools?
Besides Desert Ridge Middle, Albuquerque Public Schools also operates Volcano Vista High (2,089 students), Atrisco Heritage Academy Hs (1,930 students), and La Cueva High (1,826 students). See the Albuquerque Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.