Article Summary –
Valencia Newcomer School in Phoenix, supporting immigrant children, is closing due to declining enrollment and immigration reforms. With once 216 students, only 22 remain. The school excelled in English proficiency and trauma-informed care, but resources will be redistributed within the district.
PHOENIX – A unique school for immigrant children to adapt to the American education system is closing due to declining enrollment, leaving a model for nurturing vulnerable students.
In 2018, young Luis Mujica and his mother left Venezuela for Phoenix, seeking better opportunities.
“When we arrived, it felt overwhelming,” said Mujica at the Alhambra Elementary School District board meeting on Jan. 22. “Most of the time, I felt invisible.”
In their first weeks in the U.S., they found comfort at Valencia Newcomer School, which opened to nearly 150 immigrants and refugees and later employed Mujica’s mother.
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Mujica recalls monthly supply trucks at the school: “There was a place to get clothes, shoes, and essentials.”
Valencia is part of Alhambra Elementary School District, serving over 9,000 students, two-thirds Hispanic. It’s one of few Arizona schools helping immigrant children from 20+ countries adapt.
“Valencia taught me English, confidence, and that my background is a strength,” Mujica said.
The governing board voted to close the school, which will hold its final classes this academic year.
The trickle-down effect
Board members cited COVID-19, lower birth rates, and aging locals for the enrollment drop.
“What can you do? You can’t create children from nowhere,” said board member Christian Solorio.
The school, which once taught 216 immigrant students, now enrolls only 22, including non-immigrants.
Principal Lynette Wegner links the drop to immigration reform: “There was nothing we could do.”
The district’s report noted immigration-related mobility has affected enrollment more than in neighboring districts.
Executive Order 14161 by Trump imposed entry limits on 19 countries, partially suspending others including Cuba and Venezuela.
Lingering trauma, lasting personal impact
Valencia monitors English proficiency with the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA).
From January to December 2024, English-speaking growth rose by over 50% at Valencia, compared to 34% district-wide.
Wegner emphasized that meeting students’ needs is essential before learning content.
She recalled traumatic events at Valencia, like a student panicking during a fire alarm.
Wegner’s staff undergoes trauma-informed training with the Arizona ACEs Consortium, vital for helping vulnerable groups.
“We had to view children differently,” she said, by turning “What’s wrong with you?” into “What happened to you?”
Staff knew support would help them assist the students in front of them. They were invested in every child.
For immigrant communities, having a supportive group is crucial, not just convenient.
A study published by Current Epidemiology Reports shows Latino immigrants form networks that ease foreign system navigation stress.
Another study found immigrants involved in community organizations feel “complete and empowered.”
A child’s reality
Wegner recalls memories as principal, looking at a 2018 class picture.
Her office shelves feature “Journeys,” a picture book by former students, with stories in native languages and English.
Wegner hired therapist Priscilla Varela, loved by students for her trauma-informed practice.
Varela’s service extended beyond school, taking families to hospitals and appointments.
Valencia prioritized support beyond academics, said Lupe Conchas, Alhambra Elementary School District Governing Board VP.
“We invested in counselors and social workers in Alhambra,” said Conchas, who helped families with life skills.
Valencia staff used one-on-one approach with newcomers, ensuring they had necessities.
“People came on Saturdays to furnish homes and teach newcomers,” Wegner said.
Moving forward
“I hope for another Valencia Newcomer School one day,” said Conchas. “Policies should allow families fleeing unstable countries to find a home and support here.”
Attendees at the Feb. 12 meeting shed tears during the final decision.
“Valencia was many people’s first American experience,” said Wegner.
Valencia students will transfer to other district schools. Resources will be redistributed within Alhambra.
“We move forward with the ache and memory of what it was,” said Derek DeVelder of Abounding Service, a Valencia partner.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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