Uvalde School District Approves Plans for New Elementary School

The school board for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District in Uvalde, Texas, recently approved the design of a new elementary school to replace Robb Elementary, according to local news. The new facility will have a capacity for 800 students—almost twice that of the original school—and will prominently feature a memorial to the victims of last year’s shooting. The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation will now begin creating construction documents for the new school, which is scheduled to break ground in middle or late summer, according to local news.

A tree near the school’s entrance will serve as a reminder of the massacre at Robb Elementary School in May 2022. “It’s going to have two large limbs representing the two teachers and 19 smaller limbs representing the children,” said Uvalde Precinct 4 Judge Lalo Diaz. “Technically, this is going to be the center focus of the school and the vision of what we’re doing. Technically, this is holding up our school. This tree is going to be symbolizing the school for years to come.”

New safety measures will include fenced-in playgrounds and fields, keyless entry points, nine-for privacy gates, and a secure waiting area for visitors. A new road will also provide easy access to first responders during emergencies.

Funding for the $60-million project is coming largely through donations and fundraising, according to local news. The foundation has raised almost 70% of the goal and is accepting donations online.

“The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation is honored to begin the next phase of our work to build a new elementary school in the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District,” said Tim Miller, the foundation’s executive director. “With this evening’s approval of the schematic design by the UCISD school board, we now move to the initial phases of the construction phase through the creation of construction documents.”

The new school will measure in at two stories and 120,000 square feet, according to local news. It’s scheduled to open its doors in time for the 2025–26 academic year.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of West Florida Opens New Laboratory Facility

    The University of West Florida recently announced that renovation work is complete on a new lab building for its campus in Pensacola, Fla., according to university news. Building 80 will serve as the home to the university’s civil engineering program and the Tyler Chase Norwood Construction Management Program.

  • Midland ISD Starts Construction on Two New High Schools

    The Midland Independent School District recently announced that it will break ground on two new high schools in Midland, Texas, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects, Lee Lewis Construction, and Satterfield & Pontikes to create a total of over 1.5 million square feet for 8,400 students in grades 9–12.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

  • KI Wall Demonstrates New Solutions at NeoCon 2025

    KI Wall attended NeoCon 2025 in Chicago, Ill., last month to showcase its new architectural wall systems and collaborations, according to a news release. Its customizable, design-forward wall solutions are intended to support creativity in work, education, and healthcare environments.

Digital Edition