Just ahead of the new school year, the Socorro Independent School District celebrated the opening of Eastlake Middle School, home of the Ravens, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 27.
Before the big event, the Eastlake High School drumline and cheerleaders and the Eastlake Middle School cheerleaders entertained the audience, including faculty, staff, students, parents, board trustees and administrators.
“Ravens, I know you will achieve great things in your first year here,” said SISD Superintendent Nate Carman, Ed.D. “You will set the bar high for future generations of students who will enter these doors for years to come.”
Some 670 students have enrolled in the new school, which has a capacity for 1,196 students and will alleviate Col. John O. Ensor Middle School.
Gabriela Elliott, principal at Eastlake Middle School, said she was thrilled to officially open the doors to parents and students.
“It’s exciting to finally have students fill our building,” Elliott said. “It takes everybody in our community, parents, district, leaders, and teachers to help our students be successful and provide them with the amazing opportunities that they deserve, such as these new facilities. We look forward to building so many meaningful relationships with our students, our Ravens.”
The state-of-the-art facility is the 51st campus in the district and is part of the combo school with Col. Ben Narbuth Elementary.
The new combination elementary and middle school covers more than 294,400 square feet and was designed by Mijares-Mora Architects. Banes General Contractors constructed the facility.
Eastlake Middle School features first-rate science labs, collaborative spaces for students, a fine arts area, and more.
“I love the new school,” said Deion Torres, an eighth-grade student. “It’s huge and modern, and I can’t wait to start the new year here.”
Torres’ father, Raul Torres, said he is excited for his son to start at the beautiful school this year.
“We hope these new facilities give him a lot of advantages and gets him a good education because that’s number one,” Raul Torres said.
The campus opened for the first day of school on July 31 for the 2023-24 school year. Eastlake Middle School is one of the few remaining projects constructed through the SISD Bond 2017 program.