Originally published in KRQE News, May 13, 2026
Colinas Del Norte Elementary School celebrated after becoming the only public school in New Mexico to earn a prestigious STEM certification from the nonprofit Cognia, which accredits schools all over the world.
“Cognia is an organization in education that is very well esteemed,” said Principal Emily Key. “They take a look at our programs, and they give us a stamp of approval to say that we’re doing everything that they would want to see in a school that can be considered STEM certified.”
Key said that means their classrooms are places where students thrive in their ability to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math. Key said it’s important to engage students in the wonders of STEM early on because it fosters a sense of personal agency. “We see that our students need to be active participants in sustaining the future. We know that right now, we want our children to be prepared to solve any problems that come their way, so we build teamwork and collaboration. We ensure that they have the efficacy to solve hard problems, because we believe that’s crucial in our future.”
About two years ago, the school applied for the certification, and over the course of a year, a Cognia official visited the Rio Rancho school to observe their STEM coursework. They also looked out for student engagement-like observing whether lessons are mostly lecture-based, or if students are fueling the lesson’s progression themselves. “They want to see students asking and answering their own questions and addressing their own misconceptions. They really want to see students engaging in their learning in a hands-on way,” said Key.
The school’s latest STREAM project, a science, reading, and art project-based lab all students take each year, had students 3-D print the components for and then assemble CubeSats, small satellites used to collect data like barometric pressure, altitude, time, date, and temperature.