Mission: Educate!

Albuquerque has a great public school system and it’s getting better every year. In fact, New Mexico high schools in 2012 boasted a 70 percent graduation rate, a 7 percent increase over the previous year. For Hispanic students, the graduation rate increase to 67 percent in 2012, up from 59 percent in 2011 - the graduation rate for Native American students increased as well.

While New Mexico’s schools are doing a great job educating its students, there isn’t always an equal playing field of opportunity. Fortunately, there’s a new organization in New Mexico working to make the system even better, and help our kids reach their full potential.

Mission: Graduate launched this month, and they’re seeking volunteers and other education-focused New Mexicans to help their cause. Here’s a brief history and mission of the group, courtesy of their website:

In January 2013, a group of our community’s top leaders signed the Central New Mexico Education Compact, which articulates the vision, goal, and key objectives for the partnership. 

 In short, our goal is to add 60,000 new college degrees and certificates to Central New Mexico by 2020. 

 We face many challenges to increasing high school graduation and college degree attainment rates, but we are confident that together, as a community, we can develop data-informed solutions, both in school and out of school, to improve educational attainment for all residents of Central New Mexico. 

 To that end, we will seek out and build upon effective educational practices throughout our four-county region. We believe that there is much good work happening in our community, but it is not always well coordinated or aligned to serve the students who need our support the most. 

 The graduation rate for New Mexico’s Hispanic students increased to 67.7 percent in 2012, up from 59.3 percent the year before. The graduation rate for Native American students increased to 64.9 percent from 56 percent. 

Click here to learn more about Mission: Graduate and how you can help them achieve their goal!