Mayor Daley Dedicates Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School In the Avondale Community

Creating new state-of-the-art schools will give Chicago Public Schools students the facilities and equipment they need to build a formula for success, Mayor Richard M. Daley said today as he cut the ceremonial ribbon on the new Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School.

Lorca School, located at 3231 N. Springfield Avenue in the city’s Avondale community, is one of five new schools that opened this school year under the Mayor’s “Modern Schools Across Chicago” (MSAC) initiative.

It is one of 11 new schools that have opened under MSAC in the last two years. The Modern Schools Across Chicago Initiative is fully funded by City money.

“If we want to take our schools to the next level and graduate students who are prepared for the jobs of the future, we know we must give our students, teachers and principals all the tools they need to achieve the highest possible levels,” said Mayor Daley. “There’s no better tool than an up-to-date school building that provides a safe and modern environment for learning.”

Lorca is built to accommodate a minimum of 900 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students in a three-story, 106,000-square-foot facility.

The school was named after Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, whose works will be studied by students at the school during spring semester.

Lorca will offer algebra for eighth grade students and the After-School All Stars program. Lorca students will also participate in the competitive sports.

Lorca contains six pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, 24 standards academic classrooms, two multipurpose rooms and a gymnasium.

It also features labs or classrooms for computers, science, music and art; kitchen and dining facilities; and a library and media and resource center. It boasts a state-of-the-art computer network, central air conditioning and is fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Its outdoor amenities include a courtyard and covered arcade, playlot, and a combination green and reflective roof to combat the urban heat island effect. It has the sustainable design criteria needed to achieve LEED “Silver” certification.

Lorca is designed for community use on evenings and weekends, with independent access to the gym, dining room and other specialty spaces.

Design and construction of Lorca was overseen and managed by the Public Building Commission of Chicago.

In addition to Lorca, other MSAC schools opening this year include Mariano Azuela Elementary School in West Lawn, Solorio Academy High School in Gage Park, Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language in Brighton Park and West Ridge Elementary School.

“When you open a new school, you give students and staff a new start in a state-of-the art environment. We’re proud and excited that a new generation of Chicago’s young people has begun learning here this week,” Daley said.