Albuquerque, NM: $23.6M for new autism school for 20 students

May 22, 2026, Albuquerque Public Schools set to build $23M special education school on west side of Albuquerque

In about three years, families of special needs students will have a dedicated school closer to home. Albuquerque Public Schools is building a new special education campus on Albuquerque’s west side.

Right now, APS has two special education campuses, but both are on the east side, meaning westside students spend hours each day getting to and from school. District leaders said that the new campus will reduce those travel times, while still providing the services that special ed students need. 

There’s going to be a brand-new facility, currently called the APS Westside Education Complex, funded through last November’s voter-approved $350 million bond package. “We really just want to say thank the taxpayers. Without them, this would not be possible,” said Sarah Young, a Senior Planner for APS’s Capital Master Plan. “These complexes are able to serve these students with some of the highest needs within our district due to the taxpayers, and we can’t thank them enough.” 

The new complex is expected to cost around $23.6 million and will be built near Western Trail and Unser. Educators said that’s an ideal location for westside families, including many who currently have to meet the bus around 6:30 in the morning to get to Stephen L. Moody Complex, one of the specialized facilities on the other side of town.

Jennifer Blythe, Principal of Stephen Moody. She said that for students with sensory and stimulation sensitivities, long bus rides can be very overwhelming and detrimental to their day of learning. “They have to get up early, they’re on the long bus ride, so they’re not coming to school ready to necessarily learn for the day,” Blythe said.

The new facility will be modeled after the existing ones: Stephen L Moody and the Highland Autism Center. Blythe said every detail is designed with the students’ needs in mind. “All the classrooms have natural lighting, which we know students benefit from versus having the fluorescent lights on all the time,” she said. 

The new complex will serve around 15 to 20 students with autism and a variety of higher communication and behavioral needs. Their ages will range from five to 22.  . . .

The groundbreaking for the new building won’t be until June or July 2027. APS is hoping it will be ready for students by Fall 2029.  The school will also have a diagnostic center with professionals on hand to evaluate the students’ needs and develop education plans.