This material was originally published by Reform Austin.

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Legacy Elementary School, a newly built 116,000-square-foot campus, was officially unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 10. Classes are scheduled to begin October 20, serving third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students.

Built with $60 million in donations, grants, and community support, the new two-story facility includes 36 classrooms and can accommodate up to 800 students, according to the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation .

Remembering With Dignity

During Friday’s ceremony, school officials and community members paid tribute to the victims of the May 2022 tragedy . A 21-second moment of silence was observed, and speakers emphasized remembrance, healing, and moving forward.

“This school is not about forgetting — it’s about remembering with dignity, rebuilding with courage, and choosing to believe in the future even when the past hurts.”

— Laura Perez, President of the Uvalde CISD Board

The campus includes a memorial oak tree representing the two teachers and 19 students who lost their lives, with two large branches and 19 smaller ones symbolizing each victim.

“I look forward to seeing generations go through here,” said Jesse Rizo, uncle of one of the victims, in an interview with Spectrum News 1 . “Always remembering, as difficult as it is … the recognition of the children that died and the survivors that don’t have to be forgotten.”

Robb Elementary School remains closed, with no confirmed plans for demolition, according to ABC News .

The opening of Legacy Elementary comes amid ongoing legal proceedings tied to the 2022 shooting. In June 2024, former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo and former officer Adrian Gonzales were charged with multiple counts of child endangerment and abandonment. Gonzales’ trial is scheduled for January 5, 2026, while Arredondo’s case remains pending amid litigation between the Uvalde District Attorney’s Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection .

For more information regarding gun violence in Texas, visit RA’s site  Gun Violence Watch  and follow us on  Instagram ,  Facebook , and  X .