History
In 1958, Barbara Young Simms began to investigate the possibility of starting a girls day school in Albuquerque. In 1965, she secured land, established a board of trustees, and formed the Sandía School, a nonsectarian school. In late January 1966, the Rev. Paul G. Saunders, an Episcopal priest, was selected headmaster and, later that year, the school opened. The year began with 75 students in grades 5 through 10 (grade 11 was added the next year; grade 12 the year after), and finished with 82 students. In 1969, Orell Phillips served as interim headmaster while the school’s board searched for a new head. In 1970, Mose Hale became third headmaster. Three years later, Sandía School became coeducational. In 1974, Elton Knutson was selected as fourth headmaster. The school began to refer to itself as Sandia Preparatory School and expanded to a coeducational school during the 1974-75 academic year. Fifth-grade classes were discontinued in the 1985-86 school year. For the next academic year, Dick Heath joined Sandia Prep as its fifth headmaster. Since its founding in 1966, Sandia Prep has grown from a girls school serving 82 students in three buildings to a coeducational institution serving 670 students at its maximum in multiple buildings and facilities that fill a 30-acre (120,000 m2) campus. The first graduating class in 1969 consisted of six girls and has risen to roughly 80. Sandia Prep is “descended” from the original Sandía School, a private day and boarding school for girls founded byHeads of School
Rev. Paul G. Saunders, Headmaster 1966-1969 Orell A. Phillips, Acting Headmaster 1969-1970 Mose V. Hale, Headmaster 1970-1974 Elton H. Knutson, Headmaster 1974-1986 Dick Heath, Headmaster 1986-2010 Ron Briley, Acting Headmaster 2004-2005 Steve Albert, Head of School 2010-2014 Joyce Whelchel, Interim Head of School 2014-2015 Bill Sinfield, Head of School 2015-2022 Heather B. Mock, Head of School, 2022-Curriculum
Sandia Prep is an independent school and does not accept funding from the district, state, or federal government; therefore, it is not restricted by policies put in place by those entities. The school has developed a more rigorous college-prep curriculum as compared to a state-prescribed one. The curriculum is typified by a focus on experiential learning, critical thinking, and collaboration. Every department offers advanced classes to help position students well for college admission. Prep’s sixth and seventh grades are arranged with an elective rotation cycle which allows students to sample many courses in their first two years to begin to know their own talents and interests; classes rotate every quarter. The upper school (high school grades nine through twelve) is designed to provide students with the opportunity to test their skills in a variety of academic disciplines. English, mathematics, science, history, modern language, arts, digital media and communications, and physical education are all required. Independent study and special, depth-diving academic programs are also offered. Prep is known for the rapport which forms between its faculty and students. Its diverse teaching staff encourages engagement, global awareness, and experimentation. The school has a rotating schedule of four days lettered A-D. There are eight periods, four of which are featured in a school day. Middle school and upper school assemblies, office hours, and class advisories are included throughout the week.Facilities
Sandia Prep encompasses 33 acres, including 5 sports fields, 4 newly-renovated tennis courts, and a contemporary track and soccer stadium. There are 16 campus buildings totaling 171,496 square feet. The buildings include over 50 classrooms and administrative offices, three computer labs, the DesignLab (Prep's makerspace), art studios, a photo lab, the Center for Learning Excellence, the Outdoor Leadership Program, Saunders Library, the Russell Student Center and its cafeteria, the Pitchfork Café, a dance room, a rehearsal room, and the 300+ seat McCall Family Theater which was renovated in the fall of 2018. Prep completed a million-dollar renovation of its track and soccer stadium in 2015 and rebuilt its tennis courts in 2021. The school has an additional soccer field, and baseball and softball fields. The campus includes two gyms: the West Gym which seats 600 people and can be configured for four basketball courts or four volleyball courts; and the Field House, built in 2008, which includes the 850-seat gymnasium, a weight room, multipurpose room, locker rooms, offices, and spacious lobby. Sandia Prep is the only high school in New Mexico that has its own observatory.Athletics
More than 78% of Prep students play on 54 teams in 22 sports offered. All students from sixth through eighth grade take PE classes as part of their regular schedule. Beginning in sixth grade, students may participate in: * Basketball * Cross Country * Dance * Flag Football * Golf * Mountain Biking * Soccer * Softball * Tennis * Track and Field * Volleyball Beginning in eighth grade, students may participate in all sports offered to sixth- and seventh-grade students, as well as: * Baseball * Bowling * eSports * Lacrosse * Swim All eighth-grade Sandia Prep students are eligible to participate in upper school athletics, at any level of competition (freshman, c-team, junior varsity, or variety) provided they receive approval from the Sandia Prep Athletic Director and the New Mexico Activities Association.References
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