ACE Leadership High School is where education meets the real world. Our team approaches high school differently. We invest in every aspect of our students’ lives to prepare them with the tools, support, and connections they need to thrive. We focus on practical projects instead of tests and partner with leaders in New Mexico’s ACE industries to get everyone learning on their feet rather than cramped behind a desk. We all know the world of work is changing, and education should too. That’s why we’re building a better future together.
Our Approach
At ACE Leadership High School we work as a team to support students with a real-world education. Our teachers and staff work alongside leaders in New Mexico’s architecture, construction, and engineering industries to provide students with the tools, support, and connections they need to succeed. We offer both day and evening programs to ensure that every student — whether returning to school after an absence, raising a family, or holding down a job — has the individualized support they need to succeed.
We are caring.
At ACE, we make sure every student gets one-on-one support. Our school is a safe and caring place where students discover their unique strengths, grow, and thrive. As a community, we believe in the power of courage, integrity, and purpose. We hold each other accountable and bring out the best in each other so that we can build a better future together.
We are grounded.
ACE offers practical experiences and expert connections that prepare our students for success in life and work. We are free, local, and public, and we have been firmly grounded in our community since 2010. At ACE we pair hands-on projects with highly engaged teachers and staff, providing a meaningful and supportive environment where students can thrive.
We are connected.
At ACE, we know that when we work as a team, everyone wins. That’s why we build connections between students, educators, community partners, and industry leaders to bring out the best in all of us. We actively engage with our local neighborhoods to provide resources and support for a healthy community. These vital connections support our students and offer opportunities to give back to the place we all call home.
ACE: A Community School
ACE has been a Community School since 2021. A Community School acts as a central hub of services and resources for its students and families and its community members. ACE partners with organizations and businesses to provide assistance to those that may need help with a variety of services, including but not limited to access to food and health services, job training, tax and legal services, access to ACE industries, tools, and equipment, invitation to ACE and community-related events, activities, and so much more. ACE’s Community School looks to improve the general wellbeing for all ACE families and the communities surrounding ACE.
Our History
ACE was founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2010 in partnership with Associated General Contractors (AGC). ACE began with a goal to improve educational outcomes for marginalized students by sustaining innovative, student-centered, community-responsive schools aligned to dynamic industries in New Mexico.
Over the last decade, ACE’s partnerships in New Mexico’s architecture, construction, and engineering industries have allowed us to engage young people who love to design, build, and learn through hands-on projects. Through ACE, students gain the connections, skills, and mentorships they need to become future leaders in their careers and communities.
Since our founding, ACE has received national recognition for innovations in learning-by-doing pedagogy and performance assessment. We continue to work boldly for the future of Albuquerque and New Mexico while advancing career technical education on a national scale.
