History of former Del Valle Middle School in Del Valle, Texas revealed and revisited.

On the date of January 16, 1964, Edward Thomas Flow and Ruby Kieke Flow deeded land on a warranty deed to the Colorado Common School District (Now Del Valle ISD) for schools to be built on. New schools were much needed for the school district.

Another building program was passed during the 1964-1965 school year and resulted in the construction of a new junior high school and a new middle school. 1965 is when Del Valle Middle School was constructed. Del Valle Middle School opened in August 1965. Grades 6 through 8 were taught at this school.

Prior to 1965, Del Valle Middle School students and Del Valle Junior High School students were educated at the 1948 Popham School (Popham Elementary School) campus. Del Valle Junior High School and Del Valle Middle School shared the same building as Popham School prior to 1965.

Del Valle Middle School was built next to the then Del Valle Junior-Senior High School (which would later become Del Valle High School) and had shared the same campus just less than a block away. Both schools shared the Panther Fieldhouse and Cardinal Baseball Field.

Separate utilities services were such as plumbing, water taps, and electrical wiring were remodeled at Del Valle Middle School in 1986. New lights for the cafeteria and baseball field were installed 4 years later.


In 1993 when Bergstrom Airforce Base closed due to military budget cuts, Del Valle Middle School was selected as one of the 5 schools to be relocated and demolished by the Airport Noise Mitigation Program. Airport Noise Mitigation Program was initiated by Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

The Airport Noise Mitigation Program verified that Del Valle Middle School was located in the flight path of the ABIA Airport. The Airport Noise Mitigation Program required Del Valle ISD to relocate 5 to 6 of their then present schools alongside the Colorado River. These schools could not be sound proofed due to high maintenance costs and lack of funding. Also the schools would be too close to the flight path for classes to be unaffected by the noise pollution.

1996 is when the land of the 5 Del Valle ISD schools were sold to the US Government and City of Austin on a memorandum contract for grand total of $45.6 million dollars. Schools were being slowly relocated at that time.

By 1999, Bergstrom Airforce Base was converted into the now present day Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). Del Valle Middle School relocated to the location of 5500 Ross Road in 2000.

Del Valle Middle School was demolished in 2001. As part of the agreement with City of Austin and Del Valle ISD, the associated buildings pavement and building slabs would not be disturbed. This condition was made due to environmental concerns and saving on costs.


The only visible remains of Del Valle Middle School are the driveway and building slabs which are still extant today. The district offices, a couple of maintenance sheds, and Del Valle Panther Fieldhouse are the only other remaining structures left of Del Valle Middle School. Half of those buildings are in use currently. The sheds remain abandoned in a field of overgrown grass.

Del Valle ISD leases out Panther Fieldhouse and Cardinal Baseball Field to filming companies & production teams for recording movies or TV series. Del Valle ISD is still responsible for maintaining and upkeep for Panther Fieldhouse and Cardinal Baseball Field.


Del Valle Middle School was located at 2404 Shapard Lane, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617.