The land east of the campus, reaching the crest of the Sandia Mountains, was sold later in a series of deals.

Later, the City of Albuquerque attempted to facilitate a deal to sell the remainder to the Bureau of Land Management by putting up a parking garage as collateral.

[citation needed] The deal fell through, and the academy became the garage owner while still retaining the area.

[citation needed] In July 1982, the city purchased most of the land in a complex deal with the academy and the US Forest Service.

The City paid the academy $23.9 million, raised by a bond issue supported by a temporary ¼ percent sales tax.

[7] The City retained part of the land, which is now the 640-acre (260 ha) Elena Gallegos Picnic Area/Albert G. Simms Park, located at the feet of the Sandias at the mouths of Bear and Pino Canyons.

HDIC then purchased a large tract of land in the northern section of Rio Rancho, developed as Mariposa.

[9] The proceeds from the land sales and from HDIC have provided the academy with a substantial endowment, which is used partly to defray tuition expenses and to subsidize a significant need-based financial aid program.

Today, the academy has an enrollment of more than 1,100 in grades 6 through 12, with students drawn from throughout the Albuquerque metropolitan area and the state of New Mexico.

All of the buildings except the Natatorium were designed by Robert McCabe of Flatow, Moore, Bryan, and Associates, and opened in 1984.

The library was designed by Alexander "Sandy" Howe of the Boston firm of Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott and opened in 1991 along with the Science Building.

It is adjacent to the Desert Oasis Teaching (DOT) Gardens, a resource that serves students and the community.

There are also several soccer, baseball, and softball fields, a tennis complex, a cross country course, a weight room, and basketball courts.

The Experiential Education department also constructed a pump (bicycle) track used by the summer program, PE classes, and Ex Ed students on the east end of campus.

The Academy curriculum includes a significant experiential education component, part of which involves outdoor activities such as backpacking, rock climbing, and canoeing.

The Academy also ranks among the top independent secondary schools with regard to need-based financial aid, supporting nearly one-quarter of the student body with a total of $4.9 million.

Financial aid is awarded based on a family's demonstrated need and the student's strengths relative to the applicant's class.

Extracurricular activities at the school include state championship sports teams, The Advocate (a student newsmagazine that has received numerous awards from the Albuquerque Tribune and the New Mexico Press Women), Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, and theater.