History about the Del Valle Opportunity Center.

The Del Valle Opportunity Center (Lamar School also known as La Mar School) has been a pinnacle in community activities in Del Valle, Texas for years. It has shaped at-risk students and has turned them around to be positive contributing members of society. For instance offering extracurricular activities, vocational training, and therapy along with other classes. These students focus on graduating rather than the traditional school experience. The Del Valle Opportunity Center operated as a K-12 campus.

In 1937, Del Valle Missionary Baptist Church sold 1 acre of land to the Colorado Common School District (now Del Valle Independent School District) to open the Lamar School. Lamar School was established as an elementary school for black students who lived in the Colorado Common School District in Del Valle. In 1940, the church sold an additional 5 acres of land to the Colorado Common School District to open the Lamar School which would eventually become Lamar Elementary School.

From 1937 to 1957, Lamar School operated as a two-room schoolhouse before expanding into a modernized school campus. For 20 years, Lamar School operated in a one story two-room schoolhouse until eventually relocating into an actual building. From 1937 to 1978, Lamar School would operate as Lamar School Elementary until eventually becoming Del Valle Opportunity Center.

In 1957, the Lamar School relocated into an International style L-plan building. The two-room schoolhouse was demolished and cleared out to make way for additional portables for the school district. Several buildings were built across the 6 acre campus. Portables were added as additional buildings to the Del Valle Opportunity Center. The architect of the building was Arnold E. Whittmann. Until 1970, Lamar School operated as a school for African American students residing in Del Valle and the surrounding areas.

Lamar School would eventually become the Del Valle Opportunity Center in 1978. A few extra additional portables were constructed as well. The school has had its share of violence and other mishaps occur as similar situations occur in such school settings. For example, a 15 year old stabbed another student in 1992. Police were called to the scene of the crime and arrested those who were involved during an investigation.

The Del Valle Independent School District school board passed a bond in 2007 to relocate the Del Valle Opportunity Center to another new building. In 2010, the Del Valle Opportunity Center was relocated to the new location of Del Valle High School. In 2011, the Del Valle Opportunity Center was all but abandoned. The International style L-plan building quickly fell into rural decay.

The Del Valle Opportunity Center was sold to a commercial owner who now has a real estate business located there. In 2016, the Lamar School was demolished. The demolition process was a quick and speedy process due to the International style L-plan building being one story.

Del Valle Opportunity Center (Lamar School) was located at 3311 South FM 973, Del Valle, Texas, US.