Amidst the diverse cultural landscape of Phoenix, a unique educational institution faces closure. The Alhambra Elementary School District is contemplating shutting down a school specifically designed to assist refugee families as they acclimate to life in the United States.
In 2023, Valencia Newcomer School welcomed 140 students spanning grades K-8, originating from 22 countries and speaking 18 languages. Today, the student body has dwindled to just 23.
Valencia has historically collaborated with resettlement agencies to support newly arrived families. However, Principal Lynette Wegner attributes the recent decline in enrollment to a ban on refugee admissions implemented during the Trump administration.
“With our model, our students stay with us for one academic year and then they transition to their homeschools,” Wegner explained. “So because we have not received any new families this year, as we transition our students, we’re not getting new students.”
Wegner emphasized that without incoming students, keeping the school open is not financially viable.
A public hearing regarding the school’s potential closure is set for later this month. When questioned about the possibility of reopening should policies shift in the future, Wegner responded:
“I would love it, but I also feel like we’ve learned a lot,” Wegner said. “We’re able to now train our teachers and staff throughout our district to support the needs that we, that we identified these last eight years.”
