Mountain Mahogany School lifts literacy scores to 47% via mixed-grade classrooms
A program that groups students by skill level rather than grade has helped the Albuquerque school outperform district and state averages.
By Harper Foster ·
Students at Mountain Mahogany Community School in Albuquerque now read at a proficiency rate of 47%, surpassing both their district and the state average. This outcome stems from a instructional model that separates children from their traditional grade cohorts to address specific academic gaps.
Structured literacy coach Alexandra Wilcox introduced the program, known as a literacy walk, about two years ago. She developed the initiative after observing her own fourth-grade son struggle with reading. Wilcox said she realized many other students needed similar support, prompting her to design a system based on individual needs rather than age-based expectations.
Under this model, students in grades three through five leave their regular classrooms for 50 minutes each school day. During this time, they move to a designated room where they work with peers who share similar skill levels. Wilcox said the grouping is determined by extensive data analysis and individual student assessments, ensuring every child receives targeted intervention or advanced instruction.
The class sizes vary to accommodate different learning paces. Students requiring extra help receive one-on-one time with teachers, while those excelling in the subject work with more rigorous material. Fifth grader Steven Gonzales, who has attended the school for a year and a half, said the program improved his grammar, reading, writing, and punctuation skills. He noted that learning with peers at his level made the process more effective.
Wilcox said the school has seen a 20% increase in literacy proficiency since the program began. According to PED’s NM Vistas data, the current 47% proficiency rate places the school above regional benchmarks. She emphasized that the team does not view these figures as a final goal but rather as a stepping stone toward higher achievement.
Wilcox hopes other schools and districts in New Mexico will adopt the approach. The goal is to ensure more students across the state not only learn to read but also excel in the skill. The program continues to operate daily, with students rotating through the literacy walk sessions as part of their standard schedule.
