Albuquerque Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $45.5 million
- Spending
- $44.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 858
- Volunteers
- 359
- Highest pay
- $423,591, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 43% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $33.5 million spent. ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENT, COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL THAT SERVES A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE. THE SCHOOL OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE A PASSION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING, FOSTER CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION, AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE ACADEMY OPENED ITS DOORS IN THE FALL OF 1955 WITH 12 BOYS IN GRADES 7 THROUGH 9, TWO TEACHERS, AND FOUNDING HEAD WILLIAM WILBURN. CLASSES WERE HELD IN RENTED SPACE IN THE PARISH HALL OF ST. MICHAEL'S AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH. IN 1957, ENROLLMENT HAD GROWN TO 75 BOYS AND THE SCHOOL MOVED TO A 27-ACRE SITE ON NORTH EDITH BOULEVARD IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. THE FIRST CLASS OF SEVEN BOYS GRADUATED IN 1960. IN 1966, THE SCHOOL MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION, AND IN 1967/68 WAS HOME TO 405 BOYS. GIRLS WERE ADMITTED BEGINNING IN 1973. FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2024/25, THE ACADEMY SERVED 1,198 GIRLS AND BOYS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12.THE ACADEMY'S REMARKABLE GROWTH WAS MADE POSSIBLE LARGELY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFT OF ALBERT G. SIMMS, A NEW MEXICO FINANCIER AND RANCHER, AND HIS WIFE, RUTH HANNA MCCORMICK SIMMS. IN THE EARLY 1960'S THE SIMMS GAVE OR BEQUEATHED TO THE ACADEMY (IN TRUST) MORE THAN 12,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND AND 8,000 SHARES OF ALBUQUERQUE NATIONAL BANK STOCK. THE UNDEVELOPED LAND HAS BEEN SOLD RESULTING IN THE ENDOWMENT THAT TODAY ENABLES EDUCATION IN A BEAUTIFUL AND UPLIFTING ENVIRONMENT, AND ALSO HAS PROVIDED THE SCHOOL ITS CAMPUS.THE UNIQUENESS OF THE ACADEMY IS DUE, IN LARGE PART, TO ITS COMMITMENT TO ITS ADMISSION POLICY, AND TO PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY. EVERY ACADEMY STUDENT BENEFITS FROM THE SCHOOL'S COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY. DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE ENDOWMENT COVERS APPROXIMATELY 12% OF THE COST NOT COVERED BY TUITION.A FURTHER COMMITMENT OF THE ACADEMY IS TO DIVERSITY AND DEDICATING THE SCHOOL'S RESOURCES TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ALL STUDENTS CAN THRIVE. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE SCHOOL'S CONSTITUENTS TO MAKE THIS ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND TO FOSTER MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. STUDENTS OF COLOR (INCLUDING STUDENTS OF MIDDLE EASTERN, HISPANIC, AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN, AND NATIVE AMERICAN ANCESTRY) REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 57% OF THE TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION FOR THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR. APPRECIATION FOR DIVERSITY IS ALSO EXTENDED TO THOSE OF VARIOUS SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS.ACADEMY STUDENTS BENEFIT ACADEMICALLY FROM SMALL CLASSES (AVERAGING 13 STUDENTS PER CLASS) AND A TEACHER-TO-STUDENT RATIO OF 1:10.THE ACADEMY CURRICULUM IS RIGOROUS AND EXCLUSIVELY COLLEGE PREPARATORY. 24 ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES WERE OFFERED IN THE 2024/25 SCHOOL YEAR. THE 2025 GRADUATING CLASS HAD 17 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SEMIFINALISTS AND 3 COMMENDED STUDENTS. THERE WERE 167 STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025. ALMOST ALL ACADEMY GRADUATES ENROLL IN A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IMMEDIATELY UPON GRADUATION.
- $2.3 million spent. SUMMER PROGRAMTHE ACADEMY SUMMER SESSION OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO 1,311 CHILDREN OF THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY (MOST NONAFFILIATED WITH THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR) TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ENRICHING AND EXCITING SUMMER EXPERIENCE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. THE PROGRAM HAD MANY CLASS OFFERINGS INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, A DAY CAMP, VARIOUS SPORTS CAMPS AND SWIM INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN FROM PRESCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL. CREDIT CLASSES IN MATH AND SCIENCE ARE ALSO OFFERED TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.THE SUMMER PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ACADEMY SINCE 1984, REINFORCING THE SCHOOL'S UNIQUE MISSION OF ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY, EXCELLENCE AND OUTREACH. AN IMPORTANT OUTREACH EFFORT IS THE MULTICULTURAL SUMMER HONORS PROGRAM, A SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR ACADEMICALLY TALENTED AND MOTIVATED AFRICAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, HISPANIC, AND OTHER STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ENTERING THE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADES. OVERALL, THE SUMMER PROGRAMS BUILD A BROADER SENSE OF COMMUNITY AS SUMMER STUDENTS AND THEIR SIBLINGS, AS WELL AS CHILDREN OF FACULTY AND ALUMNI, RETURN SUMMER AFTER SUMMER. THE SESSION IS STAFFED BY QUALIFIED AND TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO COME FROM THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO AND THE WIDER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY.COMMUNITY ACADEMY:COMMUNITY ACADEMY SUPPORTS THE ACADEMY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING. COMMUNITY ACADEMY OFFERS A CONTINUING EVENING LECTURE SERIES, FREE OF CHARGE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, PRESENTED BY ACADEMY FACULTY, ALUMNI, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH EXPERTISE IN THEIR FIELDS.
- $2.1 million spent. THE ACADEMY DINING HALLS PROVIDE LUNCH EVERY SCHOOL DAY FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF. SAGE, THE SCHOOL'S FOOD SERVICES VENDOR, HAS SERVED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS FOR OVER 24 YEARS. SAGE'S MISSION IS OT CREATE EXCEPTIONAL DINING EXPERIENCES THAT DELIGHT THE SENSES, INSPIRE MINDS AND FOSTER COMMUNITY. THEY PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS PREPARED WITH CARE, PRESENTED IN AN ATTRACTIVE MANNER AND SERVED IN A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE BY A COURTEOUS STAFF. THE SAGE TEAM HAS BECOME A PART OF THE ACADEMY COMMUNITY, SHARING EVERY SUCCESS AND JOINING IN EVERY CELEBRATION.
- $975,503 spent. CHARGER AQUATICS ("CAO"):CAQ IS A COMPREHENSIVE, YEAR-ROUND AQUATICS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SWIMMERS IN THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE AREA WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, PARTICIPATE, AND COMPETE IN THE SCHOOL'S NATATORIUM AND IS OFFERED AS PART OF THE SCHOOL'S ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. CAQ OFFERS MEMBERSHIP IN USA-SANCTIONED CLUBS, INCLUDING USA SWIMMING AND US MASTERS SWIMMING, ALONG WITH A SELECTION OF NON-MEMBER AQUATICS CLASSES SUCH AS SWIM LESSONS AND LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION. TOTAL ENROLLMENT FOR ALL PROGRAMS WAS 338 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025.
- OTHER AUXILARIES
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.