Kirtland AFB Elementary Schools (Albuquerque, Bernalillo: transfer, neighborhood, school district)

[rochal]

Hello. My family and I are moving to Kirtland AFB this summer. We have a daughter that will be in the 4th grade. I heard there are 2 elementary schools on base. Which one is better and why? My daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD and needs very involved teachers. Thank you for your responses.

[Zoidberg]

Further east is better, but strongly recommend, if you can, going further out from the base. Test scores are quite poor at base schools.

Bandelier ES comes highly recommended from others who have been in similar situations.

[lisdol]

I believe Sandia Base school is more highly regarded than Wherry, but not sure. I have not heard great things about Sandia Base from a couple of parents there. I know no one that attends Wherry so I cannot give an opinion of it. You'd think it were closed driving by it except that its across from the commissary and I can hear the kids playing at lunch recess when I go grocery shopping. It might be smaller, which might be a good thing.

We chose to avoid APS entirely with our kids,and live off base in the E. Mtns, and are in the Moriarty-Edgewood school district. We like our elementary school very much. It has an enrollment of somewhere between 300-350 kids grades K-6. I have two kids with IEPs and we do frequent reviews and modifications to fit their needs. Everyone is very helpful.

PM me if you want the name of the school.

If you do decide to live on base, check the no child left behind laws regarding school choice if you are in an underperforming school district. If your assigned elem school has failed to meet adequate progress for a certain length of time and is classified a certain way, I believe you get to send your child to a different elem school in the system. You would have to drive her and pick her up. I am fairly certain Sandia Base and Wherry have had issues with meeting AYP, as has the majority of the APS school system.

[rochal]

What neighborhood/area is Bandelier in?

[lisdol]

from: Wyoming and Sandia Circle, Albuquerque, nm to: 3309 Pershing Ave SE, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico 87106 - Google Maps

This is a map from the family housing area to Bandelier ES

I think that is a pretty nice neighborhood. The trip up Carlisle Blvd north from Gibson takes you through my old neighborhood when I was in college - it was quite sketchy - but once you get to the green tree-lined part of Carlisle north of Kathryn, the neighborhood changes.

[rochal]

I have looked online on greatschools and Sandia had very poor ratings.

[lisdol]

Another one somewhat nearby is Monte Vista Elementary. Its up by UNM. It seems to get good reviews. And the area is very walkable and pretty, with shops and grassy areas. Something to consider if you want to spend some time outside after school.

[rochal]

Just looked at the list of schools that need improvement and Bandelier is on there as well as Sandia and Wherry.

[lisdol]

I was just looking at the same list. Monte Vista met AYP. APS has a school transfer list that you put your name on to go out of district. I believe you get priority if your assigned local school is in need of improvement.

I think the greatschools reviews are a valuable tool to use along with looking at scores. I believe special ed kids are required to test at the grade level they should be in by age, not by skill, so that can throw off a school's test scores/AYP.

For instance, a local school did not meet AYP but I know people who just love it. It has a very active PTO. My 3rd child went to developmental preK there. The district was going to try to shut it down to save some money and redistribute the kids, but a group of parents fought it and the school remained open.

[rochal]

Seems like Monte Vista has excellent reviews from parents. Looks like that might be in the one for us if we get base housing. Once I get an address, I'll start the process for transferring her to Monte Vista.

If we don't get base housing, then we'll definitely look into housing near that school. We're only going to be in Albuquerque for 2 years so we don't care about the middle or high schools in the area.