Our School
About Our School
College & Career High School is operated through a partnership between Albuquerque Public Schools and Central New Mexico Community College. CCHS provides students with a unique opportunity to begin their college experience while in high school and earn college credits toward an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or certificate. The high school is open students in grades 9 - 12.
CCHS students typically spend half of their day taking high school classes, and the other half taking CNM classes. All of these classes count toward their high school diploma. All classes that are taken at CNM count toward their high school diploma AND a college degree and/or certificate. Tuition at CNM is free for CCHS students. CNM textbook costs are covered by APS, allowing students and their families to save thousands of dollars on a college education. Many CCHS students have graduated from the high school with a CNM associate degree and enough college credits to enter a university as a junior.
CCHS, which opened on CNM’s Main Campus in 2013, is located in a brand new, state-of-the-art learning facility on CNM's Main Campus. In every year of its existence, CCHS has earned an “A” rating in the New Mexico Public Education Department’s school grading report. In 2020, CCHS scored second highest in the state among all public high schools, and third highest when charter schools were included.
Since CCHS is located on CNM’s Main Campus, CCHS students have access to the same student support systems as all of CNM’s students, such as free tutoring, libraries, academic advising and academic coaches.
Classification And Course Requirements
All students are required to successfully pass CNM courses in addition to high school classes. CCHS does not have the capacity for students to repeat courses.
All CCHS students must meet the following requirements:
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA or above at CNM
- Maintain at least a 50% completion rate of courses at CNM
- Earn the required amount of credits based on their graduation standard year
If any student does not meet the above requirements, they will be placed on an academic contract. Failure to meet any requirements on the academic contract will result in disenrollment from CCHS.
Below is a list of classification and the minimum amount of credits required for each grade:
- 9th Grade - less than 6 credits
- 10th Grade - 6 - credits
- 11th Grade - 13 credits
- 12th Grade - 19 credits
A total of 25 credits are required for graduation.