The new Grant Ranch School (ECE-8) spreads across ten acres of land just off the Marston Lake and Bowles Reservoirs. After years of planning, the combination middle and elementary school site opened its doors to the Park West, Grant Ranch, and other far southwest neighborhoods for the 2001-2002 school year.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to be part of this amazing community effort to create a world class twenty-first century school," states Grant Ranch Principal Jim Kullhem. "Our goal is to enable every child to be a success story."

A dedication ceremony will be held at the school located at 5400 South Jay Circle at Grant Ranch Blvd on Sunday, October 14th at 2:00 p.m.

"Every teacher and staff member was excited by the project, positive and helpful in getting the school open," said Project Manager John Caligaris. "Watching them teach in this building and seeing how these kids respond and how much community involvement there is in the school is very uplifting."

The school includes 26 general classrooms, a media center/library, rooms for science, computers, art, and music. In addition, the school will be surrounded by a full size soccer field, a full-size middle school baseball field, 3 outdoor basketball courts, and 3 fenced playgrounds. The cost for the 93,913 square foot facility was $10.9 million dollars for initial construction.

This project was built with proceeds form the $305 million dollar General Obligation Bond passed by voters in 1998.