Amy Biehl High School was founded in 1999 by two visionary teachers who believed every student deserves the chance to achieve—not just in school, but in life. They named the school after Amy Biehl, a young Fullbright scholar and activist whose commitment to justice and equality led her to South Africa during its transition to democracy. Amy was tragically killed while working to empower women in the new South Africa. In an extraordinary act of compassion, her parents, Linda and Peter Biehl, chose forgiveness, helping grant her killers amnesty through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Amy’s spirit of courage, service, and reconciliation became the foundation upon which our school was built.
In the beginning, Amy Biehl High School operated out of a church auxiliary room in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. By 2006, thanks to a remarkable community effort that raised more than $4 million through federal, state, and private contributions, the school found its permanent home: a beautifully restored 1908 federal post office building in downtown Albuquerque. The campaign that made it possible was called The House That Truth Built. In 2015, new legislation allowed the Amy Biehl High School Foundation to purchase the building outright, securing our home for generations to come. To every donor who helped us open those doors—we remain profoundly grateful.
Today, our education is not confined to the classroom. Our curriculum weaves together academic rigor, community service through partnerships with over 140 local organizations, and restorative justice—empowering students to see the world from multiple perspectives and to act as upstanders: people who notice when something is wrong and choose to make it right.
We hold our students to the highest academic standards, preparing them to thrive in college and beyond. Each student completes two dual-enrollment college courses before graduation—a rigorous expectation that pays off. Though many of our students face barriers to higher education, their success speaks volumes: 95% of graduates go directly to college, and 86% remain enrolled after two years. A 2016 study by the Facing History Innovative School Network found what we already knew to be true: Amy Biehl High School is helping close the achievement gap.
Here, courage is taught by example. Scholarship is fueled by purpose. And the future is not just something we talk about—it’s something we build, every single day.
123 4th St SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
To schedule a tour of our campus, call (505) 299-9409
