New Southwest Mesa High School Scheduled to Open Next Year to 9th-Graders

Andrea Schoellkopf, Journal Staff Writer reports on July 14, 2007:

"The search will continue for a principal for the new Southwest Mesa high school, scheduled to open next year to ninth-graders."

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"...crews have broken ground in the last month on the southwest campus, preparing the site for construction. That work is expected to begin in September after bids are opened Aug. 2, said Karen Alarid, director of APS facilities planning and construction.

Alarid said dirt is being moved to the future site of a new elementary school on Blake west of Coors, which is "like a bowl" and needs to be filled in. That elementary is tentatively planned to open in the fall of 2009 to relieve Adobe Acres and Navajo elementaries.

The southwest campus, located on the southeast corner of Dennis Chavez and 118th, is being built for 2,200 students and would primarily relieve crowding at West Mesa High.

APS is planning to partner the school with the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College, the city and Bernalillo County to offer services to the community, in addition to traditional schooling. Such services would include a community health clinic and library that would be available to the public after school hours."