Corrales International School

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

Posted: March 9, 2025

It used to be a good school for dual language, but is in slow decline since 2017 when the current principal took over. Tutoring is really non-existent. It's there but doesn't really help to teach the students a better way to understand or learn because it is the same home room teacher that teaches tutoring, hence the academics scores are on the decline. It's not a strong math and science school. There's only one set of swings for the Kindergarten to play on. There's no other playgrounds or equipment period. My child gets hit in the head at least once a year with a soccer ball. The play area is very limited and consist of concrete, no grass. The children are often bored with little to do during break. It's the same few games like tags and soccer over and over again. There's definitely bullying at the school. The school is not equipped for children with disability or mental issues. Since going to school there, my child had been put into a chokehold, tripped, headbutt, etc...some of it is inadvertent, but nevertheless, it creates a dangerous situation, especially with mostly concrete. Until they change the principal, I would not recommend sending your child there. It's not a safe place. The principal is the main reason why the school is taking the turn for the worse. He has yelled at the teachers and ignored the parents concerns, so we're losing good teachers and staff and the parents who have been there for a while and knows what's going on are taking their children and leaving.

Posted: March 11, 2018

Posted: March 11, 2018

Posted: March 11, 2018

Posted: March 11, 2018

Posted: March 11, 2018

Posted: March 11, 2018

Posted: March 11, 2018

Students who are vested in their education and have parents who instill this value in the children are the most successful.

Posted: March 2, 2018

they appear to be unorganized- communication does not seem to carry-through to all teachers and parents (lack of follow through, seem to pick and choose what to follow up on based on administrator's priority).

Posted: March 2, 2018

The experience we have had has been positive, but we do not have experience with all areas of their special ed program- each child has individual characteristics which I hope would be identified and services should be available to further their education.

Posted: March 2, 2018

I have been surprised with the stories I hear, and amazed that the child(ren) return to school- seemingly without recourse.

Posted: March 2, 2018

The concept is amazing, and the primary years have been strong, but it is not our first choice for Middle School, or the end of High School. The accelerated High School curriculum, and dual language component in the primary years would only work if all students (not just parents of those students) were motivated to maintain/match the abilities of those children who have learned what is expected for the grade level. Unfortunately, it is a public charter school, and it seems that the education is given to the individual(s) in the class who "need" it most.

Posted: March 2, 2018

up to this point this has been a "no homework school", which I understand means if the work is completed (and understood) in class, an assignment does not need to be completed at home.

Posted: March 2, 2018

our experience has been quite positive, except for the PE teacher. although the rumor in class is that the math and science teachers in the early MYP program are not proficient in their areas.

Posted: March 2, 2018

I believe it is the school's responsibility to maintain these attributes, but it is not solely their responsibility. That being said, it does not seem as if they are being enforced if the attribute has not had a basis to develop at home.

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

I’ve had to file a police report. A former student showed up and cornered our daughter. The school didn’t care when less than four weeks later she received evilness in her backpack.

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

For an IB school they should have qualified teachers. Yet my daughters math teacher learned Geometry from YouTube and she told the students they were learning it together.

Posted: January 24, 2018

Dawn Jackson treats the students like inmates or animals. Not little people.

Posted: January 24, 2018

This school is no place for a child interested in learning.

Posted: May 26, 2017

Posted: May 26, 2017

Posted: May 26, 2017

The principal and other administrators are not easily approachable if you have questions or concerns.

Posted: May 26, 2017

CIS could be a great school, but right now it is not. The main issues are with the middle and high school where there is extreme disorganization and a lack of professionalism from administration. Many of the families that are in the middle and high school were promised a better education than that of a regular public school, but at this point CIS is probably just as good as any public school.

Posted: May 26, 2017

Posted: May 26, 2017

Posted: May 26, 2017

Posted: February 26, 2016

Posted: February 26, 2016

Posted: February 26, 2016

Posted: February 26, 2016

They do not work well with children who have disabilities or have different learning styles. They label your child and stigmatize them, picking on them, and being negative instead of being supportive. My child has been the scapegoat of every one of his classes since kindergarten, and his self-esteem is now being highly effected by this, crying regularly about school. I have now decided that I am going to have to take him out of this non-supportive environment. The teachers and higher-ups expect your child to be "the good child, with no issues," so beware if your child has any type of sensory, ADHD, or physical disability.

Posted: December 8, 2015

the teacher engagement at the school is wonderful. There is great communication and sharing between children, parents and teachers.

Posted: December 8, 2015

Students are assigned official homework and then encouraged to work on their own to complete web-based learning.

Posted: December 8, 2015

Our school is based on IB principles so values are regularly shared and reinforced through projects and community service programs.

Posted: December 8, 2015

Our school is wonderful. Virtually all of the teachers volunteer their time to provide extra tutoring to students after school and there are countless programs that are just amazing like International Day where children learn about a country and learn a dance & song to perform for the school.

Posted: November 28, 2015

Posted: November 28, 2015

Posted: November 28, 2015

Posted: November 28, 2015

Family Environment, educated and dedicated staff, great leadership, and doing what is needed for the benefit of the students who attend.

Posted: July 24, 2014

We moved from a large public school to CIS. Best thing we could have done. Great teachers and administration....could not ask for more.

Posted: April 20, 2014

I really thought this school was going to be amazing. We did all the fundraisers and tried our best to get this school going. We fought the Corrales village and there opposition to the school. But I think they saw things we didn't see. They ousted the principal in the first few months. Half the teachers left one year. And bullying was rampant. And they wouldn't do anything about it. I am grateful that my child is done with this school. I hope it hasn't caused to much hardships for my child. They said my child's test scores were great and everything was just perfect all the time. An independent test showed otherwise. Now I'm going to have to seek out after school tutoring to get my child caught up. I would highly recommend seeking out another bilingual school.

Posted: December 13, 2013

After reading all of the comments (It appears some of the comments are made up just to keep star rating up) I still thought this school would be a good fit. After trying to work with administration, I had to pull my child out. No organization, students are not learning at the pace I was told and bulling is ignored. I don't understand why APS is not investigating the goings on at this school.

Posted: September 15, 2013

For those parents who want answers you will be very frustrated trying to get to the bottom of why the headmaster refuses to answer any direct questions regarding her teachers. The math and science teachers in the middle school are lacking and the kids are actually getting behind. Our kids were tested in their new schools this year and are 2 years behind after being at this school.

Posted: September 9, 2013

!que escuela tan maravillosa! Nos encantan todo en esa pequena escuela. We are grateful to have our fabulous little school.

Posted: September 4, 2013

Open communication, small classrooms, motivated teachers, and a well rounded education make Corrales International one of the best charter schools in Albuquerque. A great community of teachers, staff, parents, and students!

Posted: September 2, 2013

My daughter just started at Corrales and so far the entire experience has been wonderful! She loves it there, she was instantly accepted by the students who had been there for years, so no annoying cliques or ostracize the new kid attitude that can so often happen at charter schools. All the parents and school staff have been really welcoming and supportive. All in all, we feel very welcomed and included in the school. And the curriculum seems very good, I love that the kids have such a large focus on Spanish.

Posted: August 31, 2013

We are amazed by this fantastic little school. The teachers do an outstanding job not just with the basics, but ininstilling the IB concepts that expand our children's thinking. Children at CIS are learning personal responsibility, respect for others and our planet. They get hands on experience in the garden, caring for animals and preparing food. The added bonus is learning to read, write and speak Spanish. We love this school.

Posted: August 31, 2013

We are lucky to get into this school. My child has flourished under teachers of the school.

Posted: August 30, 2013

We are new to CIS and have a child in the elem and one in the middle school and we have been so impressed with quality of education and the positive, nurturing atmosphere there. The open house event was fantastic, with the principal and all teachers presenting. We are excited to be a part of this community!

Posted: August 30, 2013

The primary years program is awesome. Our children are learning way above the local public schools. The spanish program is wonderful and our children are lucky to be in this school.

Posted: August 30, 2013

This is by far the best school in the city, great staff, great teachers and great students. The program is well thought out and rigorous, every effort is made to make the school a fun and effective learning environment. Cannot say enough about the great teachers at this school!!

Posted: August 10, 2013

I have students in the elementary grades and absolutely love each of the teachers they have had. My children are more than a nameless face in a crowded hall at CIS, they are valued and known by the caring and dedicated staff and teachers. The curriculum is challenging and my children are becoming proficient in Spanish, while being encouraged to practice empathy and display their curiosity. The head administrator is open and accessible, and I am amazed at the quality and breadth of experience our new MYP(middle school) teachers possess. No school is perfect, and no workplace without politics, but it is truly inspiring to see the level of hard work and dedication from the teachers that choose to work at CIS. It is important that my children be responsible citizens of the world, and I feel that the IB education provided by this school will help them on the road to becoming just that.

Posted: June 24, 2013

The teachers that left CIS because of bad leadership are MYP, PYP, music, and special education. The assistant principal also resigned and is not being replaced. They were not "Unhappy people" as one parent put it. They were very good educators that were tired of getting intimidated and pushed around by the unfair policies. These educators were very dedicated to CIS and without them, the school is going to be in ruins. The head of school thinks she can run a school by herself, she is going to run it straight into the ground. The students, parents, and teachers of CIS were what gave CIS it's good reputation and not the head of school. She was not a coach and did not attend most of the games, like the assistant principal and a lot of the MYP teachers. These teachers deserve some respect for standing up for our school and our students. They were just trying to make the school better for the students and the working conditions better. Did you know that the MYP classrooms are tiny and all MYP teachers had to share rooms with other teachers with no quiet space of their own to work in. There were even some classes that did not have a classroom. Our kids deserve better!

Posted: June 19, 2013

We are very concerned with the school and will continue our efforts to find an alternative IB school with openings. Our child (7th grade) had terrible experiences with classroom management with many of the remaining teachers. Those that he had great expereinces with have left- which speaks volumes. Our time spent with the administration has not been impressive and our son's test scores have plateaued. We are really second guessing our choice to attend CIS and suggest other MYP parents do the same.

Posted: June 15, 2013

I have been very impressed with the quality of teachers, leadership and parent involvement in my family's three years at CIS. The administration is not afraid to make tough decisions that are in the best interest of the student body. The bilingual education my kids are getting is incredible. Parents are asked to participate at a higher level than I anticipated but I see that as a positive. I highly recommend this school to any family interested in providing their children with stellar educational opportunities.

Posted: June 8, 2013

We are very pleased with our children's bilingual education at CIS but I think the principal is getting a bum rap. The primary (elementary) grades have performed very well on statewide tests and those teachers are International Baccalaureate (IB)-trained. Middle school performance has been less impressive and four middle school teachers will not be returning. (They have been replaced; the new teachers have IB training and experience. I asked, and there are no current teacher vacancies. The vice principal who was responsible for overseeing them, has also left and is not being replaced. I never understood why our small school really needed one, anyway.) Under the current principal s tenure, past problems with record-keeping and contracting (serious problems that led to troubling annual audit reports and even scrutiny by the state) were remedied. Rumors of an "atmosphere of mistrust" under the current principal are never accompanied by specific examples or evidence. Audits and test scores are public record, and paint a much different picture than do the rumors echoed by some here.

Posted: June 8, 2013

This school was once amazing, but the current administration created a climate of distrust. Over a dozen teachers (most of the 4th-10 grades educators) left the school this year. As a result, many students are leaving as well. I would strongly discourage future families from considering CIS until the current principal leaves.

Posted: June 8, 2013

We have been very satisfied with the education our child has received at CIS. While we have had a few difficulties with the Vice Principal--a charismatic but inattentive individual--over the years, we have found the Principal to have an open door and to be very solutions oriented. I personally hope the unhappy people who are leaving will find happiness out in the world. I also truly believe that the opportunity to change the culture in the middle school that their departure created will result in good things down the road. I find it disheartening that some departing teachers have used their connections with some parents to create a sense of insecurity and anxiety about the school. (See some unfortunate and highly inaccurate statements in posts below). Before our current Principal joined CIS, the school was in serious financial distress and had made no progress toward IB authorization. Her leadership turned both of those things around. She may not be as friendly as the Vice Principal, but she listens and rolls up her sleeves and gets to the work of problem solving and making CIS a fantastic school, all the while inviting parents to be a part of the process!

Posted: June 7, 2013

CIS is an amazing school with a wonderful PTA, truly dedicated Primary Years Programme ( k-5) teachers and fantastic leadership, in our Head of School. My children are in the PYP and are excelling in all subjects--in Spanish and in English and have participated in a great number of free after-school clubs! The Middle Years Programme at CIS is in transition and is hopefully on a clearer path to IB Authorization (the PYP has been authorized for a while) with the recent hiring of some new MYP staff.

Posted: May 15, 2013

at the end of the 2012-2013 year almost every middle school teacher resigned, The vice principal also has resigned. All signs point to a failure in the admin. What was once an excellent school is in deep crisis.

Posted: May 10, 2013

Excellent school. My children have learned so much and my oldest is able to speak, comprehend and write in two languages. As with any school there are issues, but the school makes the changes necessary to keep improving.

Posted: February 10, 2012

Excellent school! We could not be happier. We were so worried about sending or son to middle school. This school is excellent in every way. The teachers email parents almost every day to keep them informed. The students are respectful and kind to eachother. My son is learning Manderine and Spanish. We love it here!

Posted: August 9, 2011

This school is amazing! I'm still in awe of what my son learned last year. There is a wonderful focus on multiculturalism, world citizenship and teamwork. I can say enough good about the teachers I've interacted with at CIS. The PTA is well run and contributes an enormous amount to the school environment. We are excited to be back for a second year!

Posted: August 9, 2011

I selected this school for my kindergartener after countless hours of distress (reading on this website and others for hours) seeking the "holy grail" of kindergartens for my precious 5 year old daughter. We attended CIS summer school (a sneak peak) in 2010, and it wasn't till the end of that summer that she creaped up the waiting list and was finally offered a spot. I snatched up that spot and made the last minute shift in plans to enroll her in CIS, and I have to say haven't regretted it for even a moment. Maestra Gabby manages her kindergarten like a pro blending IB curriculum with her Montessori background seamlessly. This past year she faced down some real challenges and our faith in her never wavered for a moment. I was proud to serve as her room parent. My daughter finished Kindergarten reading (both in English and Spanish), Writing her own short stories (both in English and Spanish--and in cursive I have to add), she is diving into science, history, international issues and events with curiosity, respect and confidence. CIS goes beyond traditional curriculum bridging the gap between the world and the classroom. We look forward to our 2nd year of CIS adventures.