Final structural beam placed for new $106.7 million Canutillo Middle School

CANUTILLO, Texas (KVIA) -- The final structural beam went into place on Tuesday for the future Canutillo Middle School campus. To celebrate, the Canutillo Independent School District held a Topping Out Ceremony for the milestone in the $106.7 million project.

The new middle school campus' funding came from the 2024 Canutillo Bond. The district said the new campus will serve the Upper Valley portion of the district as it grows.

It will also replace the current Canutillo Middle School located on Bosque Road, which is more than 40 years old. CISD said the current campus has "substantial and instructional needs."

Students and teachers weren't the only Canutillo community members watching the beam rise into place. CMS Principal Andrea Esparza said the school's custodians joined the ceremony.

"It's the heart of our school, starting from the custodians all the way up to our students and teachers," Esparza said. "We want everyone to share that welcoming vibe."

The beam was painted white to stand out from the other beams. Community members scribbled messages onto the beam.

Esparza said the new campus will bring in new families and new traditions.

"We are putting this in the center of the Upper Valley, where we are welcoming and enjoying the new kids that are coming into our campus," Esparza said.

She emphasized that students and staff can expect modern spaces to collaborate with each other at the new campus.

Construction for the new CMS campus started in November 2025. The district said it expects construction to finish in late 2027.