Albuquerque Public Schools
Taft Community Bids Farewell to ‘Generations of Memories’
Final class moves on as school's legacy is celebrated.
Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends” boomed in the background as Taft Middle School's final crop of eighth graders milled about the school’s gymnasium on Thursday evening, clutching flowers and balloons and posing for photos with friends and family members.
It was a bittersweet moment for those 74 students, who had just taken part in a promotion ceremony marking the end of their middle school careers – and the end of Taft in its current form.
“All my family went here, so it’s generations of memories,” said Eliyana Gallegos, one of the graduates. “I just like the feeling, I guess, of being in this school. It’s so emotional and nostalgic that you don’t want to leave.”
A few feet away, Demacio Falsetta was experiencing similar emotions.
“It feels good (to graduate),” he said. “But it’s also kind of sad to know that my family, everyone has come here, so it’s kind of sad.”
Mixed in with that sadness was excitement to be moving on to Valley High School in the fall.
“It feels great,” Falsetta said, noting that he’s an athlete and looks forward to competing for Valley.
Enrollment declines
Located in the North Valley, Taft has experienced low enrollment for years. This year, the school has 253 students, significantly below the enrollment considered healthy for a middle school. Because schools are funded largely based on enrollment, small schools are unable to provide the robust extracurricular and other offerings that larger schools can.
Given that reality, APS administrators put forth a right-sizing plan that included moving students from Taft to Taylor Middle School, which is also underenrolled. The APS Board of Education approved the proposal in December.
The consolidation of Taft and Taylor makes it possible for Coronado Dual Language Magnet to move from its downtown location to the Taft campus. Coronado will eventually become a K-8 school, though it will open at the new site in the fall as a K-6 school. The current Coronado campus, meanwhile, will become a new international high school that will serve refugee and immigrant students at APS.
Students who would otherwise be attending Taft in the fall were given priority transfers to other middle schools in the district.
Taft’s spirit will live on
Taft has been around for 68 years, and its closure was front and center at Thursday’s graduation ceremony. Hundreds of onlookers cheered on the eighth graders as they marched into the gym to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” tune.
Shortly thereafter, Principal Crystal Avalos addressed the group. She praised students, staff and the community and told the eighth graders she was proud of them.
“As we say goodbye to Taft Middle School we’re grateful for the countless memories, friendships and experiences that have made this year so special,” she said. “After serving our community since 1957, Taft has been a place of growth, learning and pride for so many of us. Though the doors will close, the spirit of Taft will continue to live on in each of us.”