DESERT RIDGE MIDDLE

DESERTRIDGE.APS.EDU

801 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

Desert Ridge Middle School, located in the North Albuquerque Acres area, serves as a prominent educational institution within the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) district. The school is known for fostering a structured learning environment that emphasizes academic preparation and the transition from elementary to high school. By providing a diverse curriculum, the school aims to challenge students intellectually while supporting their social and emotional development during their formative middle school years.

Beyond its core academic focus, Desert Ridge Middle School encourages student participation in a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, arts, and student clubs. The school’s community-focused approach seeks to engage families and promote a collaborative atmosphere between teachers, parents, and students. With a commitment to preparing students for the rigors of high school and beyond, Desert Ridge remains a staple of the local community, emphasizing both character growth and scholastic achievement.

801

Total Students

63.2

Full-Time Teachers

12.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

99.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for DESERT RIDGE MIDDLE
Demographic	Student Count
White	316
Hispanic	295
Black	14
Asian	82
Two or More	68
American Indian	24
Pacific Islander	2

White
316 (39.5%)
Hispanic
295 (36.8%)
Asian
82 (10.2%)
Two or More
68 (8.5%)
American Indian
24 (3.0%)
Black
14 (1.7%)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	ALBUQUERQUE
Phone:	(505)857-9282
Website:	http://DESERTRIDGE.APS.EDU
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	801
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	63.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	794
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 270

Grade 7 277

Grade 8 254

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for DESERT RIDGE MIDDLE
Grade	Student Count
Grade 6	270
Grade 7	277
Grade 8	254

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for DESERT RIDGE MIDDLE
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	398	49.7%
Male	403	50.3%

Nearby Middle Schools (Within 10 Miles)