State and localities will need to build some 6,000 new schools to serve additional students in the next decade. Students in school buildings that were in poor condition had achievement 6 percent below students in schools that were in fair condition and 11 percent below students in schools in excellent condition. After more than 60 years on the same site, the school had become a stabilizing force in this inner city, urban neighborhood. Accustomed to walking their children to and from school, parents often stayed to socialize with neighbors. By designing a new campus that met the needs of both the students and the neighborhood, the district successfully kept a community and tradition in tact.
Educational structures surround the entry court.
Facing inward on the campus, classroom pods provide for small groupings of students around interior multi use common areas separated by operable walls. Spaces can be quickly reconfigured for maximum flexibility and learning opportunities. At the center of the academic area on campus is the media center, with an open-structure dome, painted a soft yellow that pays homage to the school's namesake and neighbor, the Arizona state Capitol building. The school is a living, learning laboratory where exploring outdoor nature paths and planting gardens are as common as textbooks and classroom discussions. Even the walkways and playing grounds offer learning opportunities.