Education
Valley Elementary Schools Shutter Their Doors After 68 Years of Service
C.J. Jorgensen Elementary School in south Phoenix will close its doors at the end of the school year, leaving a significant void in the community.
Established in 1957, Jorgensen is one of five Roosevelt Elementary Schools slated for closure following a recent district vote. The class of 2025 marks the school’s last graduating cohort.
Principal LaToya Turner expressed sadness over the closure, highlighting the school’s deep roots in the community. “Our students and their families have a legacy here,” she remarked.
To commemorate this milestone, Turner organized an open house for former students and staff to revisit cherished memories. Belen Caballero, a former student from 1962, reflected on the past, saying, “Time has gone by quickly.”
Reggie Perez, who attended in 1970, shared sentiments of nostalgia as he walked the halls again. “This is where we started,” he said. “The memories of friends here will always stay with us.”
The school, located near 19th Avenue and Broadway Road, will close as part of a strategic decision by the district, which cited challenges such as increased competition from charter schools, state funding shortfalls, and declining enrollment.
Former teacher Irma Payan expressed a mix of feelings about the closure. “It’s bittersweet,” she said. “I can still hear the laughter of children on the playground.”
Students and staff will be reassigned to other schools within the district, though the future use of the Jorgensen campus remains uncertain.
Payan noted that the memories are significant to alumni. “People remember the good things about this school; that’s meaningful,” she remarked.
As the community prepares for this change, former students affirm that the impact of their experiences at Jorgensen will endure. Caballero concluded, “Those memories will always be with us.”
The district plans to hold meetings to explore potential future uses for the closed campuses, aiming for positive outcomes within the community.
