Canutillo Middle School reaches final construction phase

Construction of the new Canutillo Middle School has reached a major milestone with the placement of the campus’s final structural beam during a topping out ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 6.

District leaders, students, staff, community members and construction partners gathered at the new campus on Upper Valley Road for the ceremony. The $106.7 million project, funded through the 2024 Canutillo Bond, has completed its structural framework and is moving into the next stages of construction.

Canutillo ISD said the project remains on budget and on schedule for completion in 2027. The new campus is expected to become the home of the district’s middle school students in fall 2027.

The final beam was signed by district leaders, construction and design partners, Canutillo Middle School students and community representatives before Banes General Contractors crews lifted it into place. The beam also carried a tree and an American flag, traditional symbols used during a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of a building’s structural framework.

The new 21st Century Learning Facility will replace the current Canutillo Middle School campus on Bosque Road, which is more than four decades old and has infrastructure and instructional needs. The new campus will include instructional and collaboration spaces, special education areas, a cafeteria, library, gymnasium, administrative spaces, playfields, parking and a new bus loop.

Principal Andrea Esparza said the facility is intended to provide modern infrastructure while creating a welcoming place for students, families and the broader community.

The Upper Valley campus is being positioned to serve continued growth in the area and help Canutillo ISD stabilize enrollment. It is one of the major projects included in the $387 million Canutillo Bond 2024, approved by voters in May 2024 to modernize campuses, expand schools and strengthen district safety and security.

With the beam in place, work on Canutillo Middle School has moved from structural construction toward the remaining phases needed to prepare the campus for its first students.