LAND PURCHASED FOR NEW LA MARQUE MIDDLE SCHOOL

A little more than 26 acres of land on the corner of Monticello Drive and North Vauthier has been purchased by the Texas City Independent School District for the site of the new La Marque Middle School. Construction is estimated to begin in February 2021 with occupancy for August 2022.

The Texas City ISD Board of Trustees approved spending $2.2 million on three tracts of land totaling 26.02 acres. The closing on this property will allow the district to move forward with its plan to build a new middle school for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.

“By us acquiring this land, we can move forward with construction sooner since we will be able to build on land that is not already occupied,” says Texas City ISD Superintendent Dr. Melissa Duarte. “La Marque Middle School has been displaced since Hurricane Harvey.Our middle school students have been sharing the La Marque High School building for the past 4 school years. We are excited that they will get a brand new building to call their own.”

Trustees have also approved the design phase of the new La Marque Middle School. In addition to the new 2-story school, which is being built for 830 students, the site will have space for a competition field and track, a practice field and ample parking.

“Our new middle school is going to have an auditorium” says Duarte. “Our architects tell us that this is rare for new construction for middle schools in Texas. We are also happy with the unique feature of learning stairs. It’s a new architectural trend that provides an informal and a formal area for gathering, teaching, socializing and performing.”

Construction of a new middle school was approved on May 5, 2018, as part of a $136.1 million bond election that also included the building of 3 new elementary schools and district-wide improvements and initiatives such as safety and security, roofs and parking lots and technology devices for students.