Casa Blanca Elementary is in final stages of construction and on schedule to open to students in the Fall. (Courtesy of Riverside Unified School District)
The new Casa Blanca Elementary School is in the final stages of construction and is scheduled to welcome students for the 2025–26 school year beginning this August.
The state-of-the-art campus, located on Lincoln Avenue, stands just a quarter mile from the original Casa Blanca school site and represents an investment in the Hispanic neighborhood's educational future.
“We are creating a place where students will engage and experience the application and relevance of their learning to their exciting futures and meaningful careers,” said Bernie Torres, principal of Casa Blanca Elementary School.
The transitional kindergarten through sixth grade school will be the first in the Riverside Unified School District designed with STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — integration as its foundational concept. While the district's award-winning STEM Academy has adapted existing school facilities to implement STEAM programming, Casa Blanca Elementary represents the district’s first campus where the architecture, classroom design and infrastructure were created from inception to support STEAM education.
“Casa Blanca Elementary is pioneering an approach that bridges the gap between early education and workforce readiness,” said Brent Lee, president of the Riverside Unified School District board. “Starting STEM exploration at a young age empowers students to dream big and pursue a wide range of possibilities.”
The facility features learning spaces equipped with technology and resources to support project-based education. District officials say these innovations will help prepare students for future workforce demands while honoring the neighborhood's cultural heritage.
The original Casa Blanca school on Madison Avenue, now owned by the Catholic Church and used by St. Anthony's, closed in 1965 during the integration of Riverside schools when local Hispanic students were bused to schools in nearby neighborhoods.
The decision to revive the Casa Blanca name holds deep significance for community members who advocated for a neighborhood school that celebrates local identity.
Community input played a crucial role in the school’s development, including the selection of the phoenix as the school mascot, symbolizing rebirth and resilience.
The school aims to form strong connections with local community organizations and regional industry leaders to provide students with real-world learning opportunities and career pathway exploration.
Saturday morning tours are currently available for community members interested in seeing the innovative campus before its official opening.
The new Casa Blanca Elementary continues the district’s efforts to expand educational opportunities in historically underserved neighborhoods while preparing students to be “college, career and world ready,” according to district materials.
