Albuquerque Public Schools

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is a school district based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1891, APS is the largest of 89 public school districts in the state of New Mexico. In 2022 it had a total of 143 schools with some 70,000 students, making it one of the largest school districts in the United States. APS operates 88 elementary, 5 K-8, 28 middle, 20 high, 31 charter, and alternative schools. They also own the radio station KANW and co-own the TV stations KNME-TV and KNMD-TV along with the University of New Mexico. APS serves a majority of Bernalillo County. Exceptions include Barton, the county's portion of Manzano Springs, and a section of Sedillo. APS also includes a portion of Sandoval County, where it serves Corrales. History Albuquerque Public Schools was founded in 1891, shortly after the New Mexico Territorial Legislature passed a new public education law authorizing municipalities to establish school boards and sell municipal bonds for school construction. The district acquired its first school by taking over the former Albuquerque Academy at Central and Edith, and classes began that fall. Primary schools were established in each of the city's four political wards in the early 1890s, and a new Central School for the upper grades opened in 1900. In 1911, the district appointed superintendent John Milne, who oversaw the school system until 1956 and was credited with much of its success.