OWNERSHIP

Santa Fe Public Schools

SIZE AND FUNCTIONALITY OF SITE

De Vargas Middle School is located on 21 acres. The school was first opened in 1962 and had additions in 1965, 1970, 1972, 1976 and 2004. The total square footage is 105,360, with 14,784 square feet in portable buildings.

INFRASTRUCTURE (ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE)

The site is large for a junior high school site. It is very long in one dimension and very narrow in the other. The configuration, along with the location of the football field and track, poses some issues for further development. The facility has received extensive renovation and a building addition since 1993.

The site has a beautiful artificial turf football field. Also interior courtyards and outdoor spaces are within the school that have artificial turf and are quite attractive.

FLOOR PLANS

BUILDING CAPACITIES

The following school building capacities are shown in the chart below:

Design with portables (also called “building capacity”) is the generic enrollment average of 7th and 8th grade students in a class times the number of classrooms in the school. The potential number of students per classroom is an average of 25.

Program with portables (also called ''functional capacity'') is the New Mexico Public Education Department's pupil to teacher ratio for 7th and 8th grade students in a class times the number of classrooms in the school after the number of classrooms is reduced by subtracting rooms used for something other than general education times a number of factors.

Design without portables is the generic enrollment average of 7th and 8th grade students in a class times the number of classrooms in the school if the school no longer has portables and if activities currently in portables are housed in permanent classrooms. The potential number of students per classroom is an average of 25.

Program without portables is the New Mexico Public Education Department's pupil to teacher ratio for 7th and 8th grade students in a class times the number of classrooms in the school after the number of classrooms are reduced by subtracting rooms used for something other than general education and if all activities currently in portables are housed in a permanent classroom times a number of factors.

Enrollment 2010-11 40th Day is the number of students attending the school on the state reporting day of the 2010-11 school year.

Enrollment at De Vargas does not exceed its design or program capacity.

HISTORIC TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS FOR ENROLLMENT

De Vargas Middle School enrollment has declined steadily since 1997-98. Continued decline is anticipated, until late in the projection period when stabilizing and rising enrollment is anticipated as new development is expected to come on-line.

ATTENDANCE

De Vargas Middle School is located on Llano Rd. just south of St. Michaels Dr. Students living in the center of Santa Fe, in Ocate Mobile Home Park and in Ramuda Ridge make up the assignment area. Students are transported to school on 1 of 7 buses. Students living in this assignment area are authorized to attend Capshaw Middle School if they choose. Of the students living in the assignment area, 64% attend De Vargas Middle School School. Of the total number of students who attend the school, 87% are from the assignment area.

See the following map.

RESIDENTIAL GROWTH PATTERNS

Several significant residential developments are identified in the De Vargas Middle School attendance area. The build-out of the Las Solares master plan is uncertain at this time.

CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPACTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY

De Vargas Middle School opened in 1962. The school has long been known as a school with a rich history of serving its community.

CURRENT AND FUTURE PROGRAMS

The school uses a multi-disciplinary team approach for its 7th and 8th grade students. The developmentally based curriculum is presented in partnership with parents, staff, students and the Santa Fe community. Core subjects (English, science, history, math) are taught through a combination of traditional and thematic units which are designed, implemented and assessed through projects, tests, and research papers.

Special programs include: dual-language program serving immigrants and native New Mexicans, incorporating language in the core classes as well as cultural aspects through history, dance and music; after-school tutoring; First Serve Tennis Program; Natural Helpers; Mariachi Conquistador; Cooking Club; Yearbook; MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Academics); Student Council; Natural Helpers; Battle of the Books; and partnerships with Unitarian Universalistic Congregation of Santa Fe and Del Norte Credit Union Unitarian Universalist Church De Vargas Support. The school offers health programs, academic support programs (AVID, Compass Learning, after-school tutoring, MESA Club, parent support programs (ESL English Language Acquisition computer classes) and opportunities for parent involvement (PTC, monthly literacy/math meetings, band booster club, unitarians school/classroom volunteers).

OPPORTUNITIES ANALYSIS

De Vargas MS:
Should be included in the recent rezoning review
Should be included in a comprehensive plan
Should be included in future partnership opportunities
Should be evaluated for future capital projects for the next bond issue and/or capital program

No changes are recommended for De Vargas. However, any planned changes in rezoning may influence enrollment.

Decisions should include future middle school athletic programs.