Nearly three and a half years after the tragedy at Robb Elementary, the Uvalde community has officially opened Legacy Elementary, a new school designed with both advanced security and remembrance at its core. A public ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 10, 2025, with students scheduled to begin classes on October 20. The facility, built to replace the site of the 2022 shooting, incorporates features intended to create a secure learning environment while honoring the 19 students and two teachers who lost their lives.
Key Takeaways
- Legacy Elementary School has opened in Uvalde, replacing Robb Elementary.
- The school features advanced security, including bullet-resistant windows and key card access to classrooms.
- A central memorial, a two-story steel tree, honors the 21 victims of the May 24, 2022 shooting.
- Fundraising for the $60 million campus was led by the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation.
- Community members and victims' families describe the opening as a "bittersweet" moment of progress and remembrance.
A Facility Built on Remembrance and Resilience
The opening of Legacy Elementary marks a significant milestone for a community still navigating its grief. While the campus is filled with bright colors and natural light, its design is a direct response to the events of May 24, 2022. The school was introduced to the public following private tours for the families of the victims, some of whom also attended the public ceremony.
For many, the day was a mix of sorrow and hope. Javier Cazares, who lost his nine-year-old daughter Jackie in the shooting, attended the event. He described his emotions as bittersweet, acknowledging the importance of the new school while mourning the reason for its existence.
"It is a great school for these children. Sadly, it took the lives of our children to make this school happen," Cazares said. "I'm happy these kids are going to enjoy this school for generations come. I just wish Jackie could have been there."
The school will serve approximately 600 students in the third, fourth, and fifth grades, providing a fresh start in a building designed to foster a sense of safety and community.
The Legacy Tree: A Central Memorial
At the heart of Legacy Elementary stands a powerful tribute: a two-story steel tree sculpture located in a central courtyard. The design is deeply symbolic, featuring two large branches to represent the two teachers killed and 19 smaller branches for each of the 19 students.
During the opening ceremony, Cazares reflected on the memorial while watching a young girl near the sculpture, a moment that reminded him of his daughter. He expressed that while the symbolism is beautiful, families hope for more specific recognition.
Memorial Details
The steel tree sculpture serves as the primary memorial. School board officials have confirmed plans to add the names of the 21 victims to the structure, ensuring their identities are remembered alongside the symbolic representation.
Plans for Future Tributes
Jesse Rizo, a Uvalde school board member and Cazares' brother-in-law, confirmed that discussions are underway about how to best add the names to the memorial. Options include placing them on the branches or at the base of the tree.
Rizo also mentioned a forward-looking idea to preserve the victims' stories for future generations of students who will attend the school.
"Somebody mentioned too that having QR codes would also be important," Rizo explained. "We know it because we live it, but 15 years from now it kind of fades, and so we want to make sure that people can click on something, and they can know about the children that ultimately paid the price for the building to be erected."
Security and Safety as Design Priorities
The construction of Legacy Elementary was guided by a trauma-informed approach, integrating state-of-the-art security measures directly into the school's architecture. The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, a nonprofit that raised $60 million for the project, oversaw the implementation of these features.
Tim Miller, the foundation's executive director, highlighted several key security components during a tour of the new building.
Funding the Future
The $60 million required to build Legacy Elementary was raised entirely through donations. The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation secured contributions from businesses, private individuals, and the state of Texas, demonstrating a widespread effort to support the community's recovery.
Advanced Security Features
The school's safety plan is multi-layered and designed to be both effective and unobtrusive. Key features include:
- Controlled Access: Entry into classroom wings requires a key card, even after passing through the main visitor entrance.
- Bullet-Resistant Glass: All exterior windows are made of reinforced, bullet-resistant glass and treated with a protective film to increase their strength.
- Comprehensive Surveillance: Security cameras are installed throughout the interior and exterior of the building.
- Door Alarms: An alarm system, known as a door prop alarm, will sound if any exterior door is left open for an extended period.
Miller explained that the extensive use of windows, which initially made some parents like Cazares nervous, is an intentional security choice. The darkened, reinforced glass allows for clear sight lines across hallways and outdoor areas, eliminating potential hiding spots and enabling staff to monitor the campus effectively.
"When you design a school... we always want to make sure there's as much sight lines as possible," Miller stated. This approach is intended to make it "very, very, very difficult for one to do anybody any harm if they were to get into the building."
A Hope for Healing and Laughter
The opening ceremony featured a performance by the Mariachi Los Coyotes from Morales Junior High. Many of these student musicians were attending Robb Elementary on the day of the shooting. After their performance, rather than give tours, the students chose to be the first to play on the new playground, filling the space with chatter and laughter for the first time.
This moment encapsulated the hope that many community leaders have for the new school. Uvalde CISD Board President Laura Perez shared her desire for Legacy Elementary to become a place of joy and positive memories.
"We owe it to Irma, to Eva, to the 19 children, right? This is here because of them. So, build beautiful memories, tell the stories, and I can't wait to hear the laughter in the hallways," Perez said.
Perez, a nurse who was working in the operating room at Uvalde's hospital on May 24, 2022, spoke about the lasting pain the community carries. She emphasized that while the new school represents a step forward, the memory of the victims and the trauma of the survivors will never be forgotten.
"I think people think, ‘Oh, we're moved on.’ We've moved forward, but we'll never forget," she stated, underscoring the complex journey ahead for the town of Uvalde.
