OWNERSHIP

Santa Fe Public Schools

SIZE AND FUNCTIONALITY OF SITE

Alvord Elementary School is located on 2.9 acres. The school was first opened in 1947 and had additions in 1949, 1963, 1967 and 1972. This facility stopped functioning as an elementary school on May 31, 2010.

The total square footage is 31,807.

INFRASTRUCTURE (ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE)

The site is located on a fairly busy street in a mixed use residential and commercial area. The site is smaller than recommended for an elementary school. On-site parking is inadequate for staff and visitors. There is no special event parking. The site offers no room for building expansion and only a small area for parking expansion.

Parent drop-off/pick-up and bus drop-off/pick-up are not separate from the parking lot and pose a serious problem and safety concern at this site. Plans by the city of Santa Fe to widen an adjacent alley to street width to serve the Sanbusco development may offer an option to improve drop-off/pick-up.

Site issues to be addressed included drop-off/pick-up improvements, lack of staff and visitor parking, lack of special event parking, and accessible parking and access route to the main entrance. (SFPS Preservation Schools Study 2002)

HISTORIC TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS FOR ENROLLMENT

Alvord Elementary School has experienced gradually declining enrollment, with little residential growth and high in- and out-transfers. Enrollment is projected to continue to decline, with upward fluctuations due to a few grades with a great number of students.

ATTENDANCE

Alvord Elementary School was a small school near the Rail Yards. Children living in the assignment zone were expected to walk to school. Students who live in the southwest portion of Santa Fe and choose to attend Alvord were transported to school by bus. Of the students living in the assignment zone, 52% attended Alvord Elementary School. Of the total number the students who attended the school, 52% are from the assignment zone.

See the following map.

RESIDENTIAL GROWTH PATTERNS

No major residential developments were identified in the Alvord Elementary School attendance area.

CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPACTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY

Alvord was a small school near the Rail Yard. Area demographics have changed significantly and the area is now primarily commercial/retail/art gallery.

Major impacts include the development of the Rail Yard project, traffic patterns and saturation in the area of commercial uses. This property has a significant commercial use potential.

CURRENT AND FUTURE PROGRAMS

It was a school goal that students who attend Alvord for four or more years would have competencies in speaking, reading, writing and understanding the Spanish language.

Alvord Elementary School had a business partnership with Tomasita’s. It offered programs in visual and performing arts, music, sports, special courses/pathways (Second Step K-3, Lifeskills 4-6, sex education 5-6 grade, Reading First), associated programs (Alvord Homeschool Roots N’ Shoots Group), health programs, academic support programs (Success Maker, La Escuela home-school, special education preschool from NYE center), opportunities for parent involvement (PTC, parent fund-raising, Literacy Night, PTC-sponsored family movie and pizza nights), and other special programs (Earth’s Birthday Project, Cranes for Peace).

OPPORTUNITIES ANALYSIS

Alvord Elementary School was closed at the end of May 2010. Students are now assigned to Aspen Community Magnet School