New middle school to open this summer in Victorville

As the student population grows, the Victor Valley Union High School District prepares to open a new middle school this summer in Victorville.

Aiming to support student success by easing overcrowding and offering smaller class sizes, the district will open the school in August at the former Cobalt Middle School on Cobalt Road in Victorville.

A committee composed of district staff and community members will choose a name for the grade 7-8 school, which will only serve 7th graders in its first year at the campus across from Silverado High School.

The school’s grand opening on the first day of the 2023-24 school year will coincide with a reduction in class sizes to 25-to-1 for middle school core classes (English, math, history, and science) at all three of the district’s comprehensive middle schools, including Hook Junior High and Lakeview Leadership Academy. As a result, all three schools will see less-crowded campuses and smaller classes.

“The heart of education is the connection between a teacher and a student,” VVUHSD Superintendent Carl Coles said. “Smaller class sizes help that connection to flourish; it’s a win-win for teachers and students. We believe this strategy will raise proficiency in core subjects and improve literacy, which is the key to success for all students.”

At its March 2 meeting, the VVUHSD Board of Trustees approved the school’s attendance boundaries, mostly west of Interstate 15 between Bear Valley and Palmdale roads.

The school will serve students who are currently 6th-graders at Brentwood School of Environmental Studies, Discovery School of the Arts, Galileo School of Gifted and Talented Education, Liberty School of Innovation and Creativity, and Park View Preparatory School of 21st Century Learning. Transfers from other schools will also be accepted.

Parent Sarah Franklyn told the Daily Press that she’s pleased the school district decided to expand with the addition of the new school.

“A smaller class size means teachers can give more attention to each student,” Franklyn said. “I hope the school district continues to expand by looking for more available space.”

The school district is already accepting registration for the new site, “Middle School 3,” until the committee settles upon a name in the coming weeks.

In 2013, Cobalt Middle School was expanded to grades 7 to 12 and renamed Cobalt Institute of Math & Science. The school then moved to its current campus on Topaz Road, VVUHSD spokesman Kris Reilly told the Daily Press.

The new middle school will have a new name to avoid confusion with Cobalt Institute of Math & Science.

The former Cobalt campus was mainly unused in the intervening years. However, the gym was sometimes used for events, and a Victor Valley Teachers Association office was also located at the site.

For enrollment information and a link to start the online enrollment, visit www.vvuhsd.org/enroll. Those wishing to enroll in the new school should choose “Middle School #3” as their site.

The district is also reviewing applications for a principal, and recruiting for other positions begins this week. Though the timeline could be called “audacious” — the plan for the new school was formulated just last semester — Coles says the work is coming along steadily, and everything should be ready for an August opening.

“Indeed, it is no easy task, but we have a responsibility and a moral imperative to provide the best possible opportunities for our students, and there is no better time than now,” Coles said. “Today's students are counting on us just as much as those who have yet to set foot on our campuses.” 

Extensive renovation work has been done at the Cobalt Road site, including painting, new carpet, concrete repair, new wiring, and more. VVUHSD Maintenance and Operations Director Brett Jurgensen said the work is about 90% complete.

The district’s Board of Trustees has unanimously supported the effort.

“This is amazing,” said Board President Penny Edmiston at the March 2 meeting, noting how quickly the project has advanced. “And yes, the building was there but has been empty for so long. I drive by there every day, and I see the work done. (The Maintenance and Operations staff) has done an amazing job.”

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: New middle school to open this summer in Victorville