Albuquerque Public Schools Calendar: The first day of school for grades 1–12 at most APS schools is Thursday, August 7, 2025, following teacher pre-planning days on August 1 and 4–6; Pre-K and Kindergarten begin Monday, August 11. Thursday, May 28, 2026, is the last day for students, with a post-planning day for teachers coming the following day, Friday, May 29.
Dec. 22, 2025 — Jan. 2, 2026 Winter Break and return of students Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, after a teacher professional development day. Spring Break occurs Monday, March 30 through Thursday, April 2, 2026, with Friday, April 3, designated as the state Vernal Holiday. Other closures include: Labor Day (Sept. 1), Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct. 13), Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19), Presidents Day (Feb. 16), Memorial Day (May 25) and asynchronous/instructional breaks for the PSAT and parent–teacher conferences.
Students get the summer off between late May and August, following the last student day, which is on May 28, with the subsequent school year starting early August 2026.
Albuquerque Public Schools Calendar 2025-2026
| Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| First Day – Teachers/Staff (PD Day) | August 1, 2025 |
| Professional Development Days (staff only) | August 4–6, 2025 |
| First Day – Grades 1–12 Students | August 7, 2025 |
| First Day – Pre-K & Kindergarten Students | August 11, 2025 |
| Labor Day (Schools Closed) | September 1, 2025 |
| PSAT Asynchronous Day (High Schools only) | October 9, 2025 |
| Fall Break (Schools Closed) | October 10, 2025 |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Schools Closed) | October 13, 2025 |
| Election Day (Schools Closed) | November 4, 2025 |
| Veterans Day (Schools Closed) | November 11, 2025 |
| Parent–Teacher Conferences (No School) | November 24–25, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving Break (Schools Closed) | November 26–28, 2025 |
| Winter Break Begins (Schools Closed) | December 22, 2025 |
| Winter Break Ends / Staff PD Day | January 5, 2026 |
| First Day – Students After Break | January 6, 2026 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Schools Closed) | January 19, 2026 |
| Presidents’ Day (Schools Closed) | February 16, 2026 |
| Spring Parent–Teacher Conferences (No School) | March 26–27, 2026 |
| Spring Break (Schools Closed) | March 30–April 2, 2026 |
| Vernal Holiday (Schools Closed) | April 3, 2026 |
| Graduation Week | May 18–22, 2026 |
| Memorial Day (Schools Closed) | May 25, 2026 |
| Last Day – Students (End Q4) | May 28, 2026 |
| Last Day – Teachers/Staff (PD Day) | May 29, 2026 |
The Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is the largest school district in New Mexico that comprises more than 70,000 academic learners in more than 140 schools, which include elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, charter schools, and alternative education facilities. The district is situated in the middle of Albuquerque, and it includes a wide range of students with different cultures and socioeconomic statuses. APS also pays special attention to academic excellence and equity and provides some curricula available in the framework, e.g., dual language learning, STEM-centered curriculum, career and technical learning, and advanced placement (AP. The district also caters to students with gifted, English language learners, and students with special needs.
Innovation, the well-being of its students, and its engagement in and with the community are important priorities at APS. It also incorporates new technology in the classrooms and provides 1:1 access to devices in order to facilitate digital learning. This district is also targeting the maximization of graduation rates, achievement gaps, and College and career readiness. Besides studying, APS offers an excellent variety of extracurricular activities, such as sporting events, arts, and leadership clubs. Albuquerque Public Schools, with a committed team of teachers and other support personnel, constantly adjusts itself to the emerging realities of students and the community at large to ensure every learner is taken through a process to ensure he or she achieves lifelong success in the fast-evolving world.
Albuquerque Public Schools Holidays 2025-2026
| Holiday/Break | Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Labor Day | September 1, 2025 |
| PSAT Asynchronous Day (HS only) | October 9, 2025 |
| Fall Break | October 10, 2025 |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day | October 13, 2025 |
| Election Day | November 4, 2025 |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 2025 |
| Parent‑Teacher Conferences (no school) | November 24–25, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 26–28, 2025 |
| Winter Break | December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026 |
| MLK Jr. Day | January 19, 2026 |
| Presidents’ Day | February 16, 2026 |
| Spring Break | March 30 – April 2, 2026 |
| Vernal Holiday | April 3, 2026 |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 |
FAQs
Q: How can I request a school transfer?
A: Parents may apply to transfer their school online by going to the district’s system, typically through ParentVUE. The first-come, served is not used to allocate transfers; in fact, they are done by a lottery system, depending on the available space and given priorities. A student can only transfer once within a school year.
Q: Who is eligible for school bus transportation?
A: Students who are entitled to bus services are determined according to distance to the school. Elementary needs to be more than 1 mile, Middle School needs to be more than 1.5 miles, and High School, more than 2 miles. Non-zoned students in a school that they are transferred to do not get bus service.
Q: How do I register my child for preschool or Pre-K?
A: Pre-K registration normally begins around the springtime. The children should be aged four years and under as of September 1 of the school year to be eligible. A student needs to be re-registered on an annual basis to secure his/her position in the program.
Q: What is the Academy’s model in high schools?
A: APS is implementing a system of a Freshman Academy in 9th grade and then interest or career-based academies in 110th-12thgrade. Students select a path, e.g., care, technology, business, and take a systematic course plan to prepare them for college or careers.
Q: How are special education services evaluated and provided?
A: The APS has an opportunity to assess students free of charge at the age of 3-21 years in case they have possible disabilities. Upon finding a student eligible, the district avails to him/her Individualized Education Program (IEP), according to the Child Find initiative.