Launch529

Private school, nonsectarian

Design for Learning Differences School

Albuquerque, NM · Grades 2 to 12 · 56 students

Can a 529 pay for Design for Learning Differences School?

Yes. Federal law lets a 529 plan pay tuition at a private, public or religious elementary or secondary school, up to $20,000 a year per student. Design for Learning Differences School is a private school serving grades 2 to 12, so its tuition is the kind of cost this covers.

What a 529 can pay

  • Tuition, up to $20,000 a year per student
  • Curriculum, books and instructional materials
  • Tutoring and classes outside the home
  • Fees for SAT, ACT, AP and other exams
  • Online educational materials
  • Educational therapies for a student with a disability

What it can’t

  • Registration, application and building fees
  • Activity, field trip and technology fees
  • Uniforms, sports and extracurriculars
  • School meals and transportation
  • Aftercare and summer camps

Ask Design for Learning Differences School which of its charges are billed as tuition. Fees added to a tuition bill are not always covered.

What New Mexico does with it

The tax rule is your state of residence’s, so this applies if you live in New Mexico.

New Mexico does not follow the federal K-12 rule

New Mexico does not treat K-12 withdrawals from a 529 as qualified. The earnings part is generally taxed as New Mexico income, and a New Mexico deduction you took for contributing may be taken back. Federally the withdrawal can still be tax-free, so the question is whether the benefit is worth the state tax.

General information, not tax advice. Source: Saving for College, which states conform to federal 529 law (Jan. 2026). How it works

Plan and track Design for Learning Differences School costs

Add this school to a free plan, see how it fits with college savings, and log each tuition bill, book and test fee so it is checked against the rules and ready for tax time.

More private schools in Albuquerque

School details: Albuquerque, NM · Private (nonsectarian) · Grades 2 to 12. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2021-22). General information, not tax advice.