Olga Cadena Salazar used to walk to school back in 1951 when she attended Carvajal Elementary. Among her fondest memories has to do with the cafeteria food.
SAN ANTONIO — For decades, Esther Perez Carvajal Elementary has been a staple neighborhood school on San Antonio’s west side. But after more than 75 years, the school is set to close in just a few weeks.
The closure follows a decision made earlier this year by the district, citing years of low academic performance and declining student enrollment.
On Wednesday, students, staff and community members gathered to celebrate the school’s legacy and reflect on the memories made inside its halls. The walls were plastered with photographs of students and teachers throughout the decades of Carvajal’s existence.
In the cafeteria, residents, many alumni of the school, flipped through pictures and news clippings of the school, reminiscing about their time as students.
“I started in 1951,” said former student Olga Cadena Salazar.
Carvajal Elementary first opened in 1949 and welcomed roughly 550 students in its early years. Salazar remembers walking to school every day and the sights and smells that defined her childhood there.
“We used to have here at the cafeteria was homemade food,” Cadena Salazar said. “You could smell it all the way down the hallway.”
The campus has evolved over the decades. In 2009, Carvajal transitioned into an early childhood education center. Now, many longtime supporters are grappling with the reality that the school is on the verge of closing down.
“It’s very sad to see it go,” Cadena Salazar said. “It’s just a beautiful school and I’m glad I was one of the first ones to come to this school.”
In January, the SAISD school board voted to shutter Carvajal in light of enrollment and academic struggles. The decision drew both criticism and support from the community. Currently, the school has around 320 students.
“Decisions are made by the district, by the city, whatever changes are done, it’s a done deal even though we fight, even though we fight,” said former student Natalia Soriano Tovar.
Soriano Tovar’s connection to the school stretches back more than seven decades.
“All my brothers and sisters, all 17 siblings, we came to this school,” Soriano Tovar said. “But my own children attended here too.”
While disappointed by the closure, she’s hopeful about what comes next for students.
“I feel good that there’s going to be a big improvement,” Soriano Tovar said. “For the children to be able to advance for the future.”
Principal Kristina Smith said saying goodbye has been emotional for staff and families alike.
“It is bittersweet because I love seeing the bubbly little faces that bop in here every morning,” Smith said.
Smith said the focus remains on helping students transition successfully into their next schools.
“We are happy to see the futures of our students and where the preparation we’ve done here at Carvajal Elementary is going to take them in the next phases of their lives,” Smith said.
Carvajal Elementary is not the only campus impacted. Rhodes Middle School, located next door, is also set to close. District officials say they have worked with families to ensure students are able to transition to other schools in the area.