Learning Centered in Experience
The Dorn Community Charter School is a free public K-5 charter elementary school conveniently located near downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. We believe in nurturing each student through child-centered one-on-one learning in a supportive, creative, and diverse environment.
At Dorn we combine structured teaching and hands-on activities with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) focus. We incorporate art, storytelling, and other innovative approaches — including Martha’s Garden, our award-winning science-based community garden — to encourage and reward children’s intellectual curiosity and capitalize on learning opportunities in the urban outdoor environment.
Social Justice and Diversity
Raising Children and Consciousness
As the only elementary school in New Mexico founded and chartered by African Americans, The Dorn Community Charter School believes equality, social justice, and racial justice must be core aspects of a child’s learning experience. We have been a leader in raising consciousness and promoting social and racial justice in the Albuquerque and New Mexico area for decades. Our teachers, staff, and leadership reflect the diversity of New Mexico, and they have all had extensive anti-racism training through ARTI, The Anti-Racism Training Institute of the Southwest, a pioneering program initiated decades ago by Dorn’s parent organization the United South Broadway Corporation. And we are proud to have one of the most diverse K-5 student bodies in Albuquerque, with the broad spectrum of New Mexico's races and cultures represented and supported.