New Mexico School for the Arts

The New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) is a public, statewide high school that serves young artists from 39 communities and Pueblos across the state. NMSA brings these artist-scholars together–many of whom hail from rural areas–to experience the richness of New Mexico arts history, culture and industry. NMSA provides access to a rigorous mastery arts and academic high school education for youth with passion and aptitude in the arts, leading to post-secondary learning, careers in the arts, and lives that contribute to society. The NMSA-Art Institute (NMSA-AI) is NMSA’s nonprofit partner and provides over 500 hours per student, per school year, of in-school arts education in one of five departments: Creative Writing & Literature, Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. NMSA’s academic program is funded by the NM Public Education Department, while the NMSA-AI funds the mastery arts training, residential, and community engagement programs offered by NMSA. Since it opened in 2010, NMSA has gone on to become one of the most successful high schools in New Mexico. In 2016, NMSA was designated a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for its success in closing the achievement gap. This year, NMSA was designated a 2023 Excellence School by the NM Public Education Department, placing it in the top 10% of all New Mexico schools. NMSA has consistently maintained a 97% graduation rate in a state where the average is 70%. Our unique intersection of arts and academics leads to measurable improvements for our students, regardless of background and other factors that often limit equitable outcomes. A statewide school provides the opportunity for students with passion and promise in the arts to reach their full potential in an educational setting that embraces the growth mindset and the value of the iterative process unique to arts training, fosters a culture of belonging, encourages discovery of personal voice, sets high standards for achievement, and provides an environment inclusive and supportive of all students. Through the generous support of the Outdoor Equity Fund we have been able to offer the following activities for NM youth from 2021-2023: Audubon Center Retreat Mountain Center Therapeutic Retreat Native Feast & Flow River trip both for NMSA Students and Carlos Vigil Students Carlsbad Caverns Trip Tewa Roots Society Trip to Nambe Falls San Ildefonso Pueblo Feast Day Outdoor classroom mural painting and gardening We will continue programming in Spring 2024 including a professional development workshop for staff around Community Based Education and Equity, improve our outdoor learning space/garden areas, and offer at least two outdoor adventures.