As the Ridgefield School District prepares to open its first new elementary school in more than six decades, the administrators who will lead the school say they’re eager to build on years of success while creating new opportunities for students and families.
In September 2025, the Ridgefield School Board — with community input — voted to name the district’s third elementary school: Sunset Ridge Elementary. The name and coyote mascot preserve a school that will be obsolete this school year, Sunset Ridge Intermediate School.
At that same time, the board also approved transitioning the district’s elementary schools from a kindergarten through fourth grade model to a kindergarten through fifth grade model beginning this upcoming 2026-27 school year.
The board's decision to keep the Sunset Ridge name followed a community survey of 1,099 residents, primarily parents. District officials said a majority favored both retaining the Sunset Ridge name and coyote mascot and shifting elementary schools to a K-5 model.
For Principal Todd Graves and Assistant Principal Stephanie Goad, the opening represents both a continuation and a fresh start.
“I think both of us feel super privileged that we get to open the first school in the district in over 62 years,” Graves said. “I’ve been in this district my whole life.”
Graves and Goad have worked together as an administrative team for nine years, first at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School. Rather than starting from scratch, Goad said the pair plans to carry forward many of the practices that have helped students succeed.
“I think that we’re excited to take some of the things that have been working well for us, that have been successful the past eight years, and learn and grow and adapt with a brand new staff that is really excited to open a new school with us,” Goad said.
Graves said moving from a single intermediate campus to collaborating with Ridgefield’s three elementary schools will create new opportunities for students before they transition to middle school.
"I think I'm excited that we're now working with three other schools," Graves said. "I think part of our goal and our mission will be to do more things as an elementary group."
Graves added sixth grade seems to be one of the toughest years of kids’ lives. Because students from all three elementary schools eventually come together at View Ridge Middle School, Graves said strengthening those relationships earlier could make that transition easier.
District leaders also highlighted several features unique to the new campus. Superintendent Jenny Rodriquez said her favorite addition is a fully inclusive playground designed so students of all abilities can play together.
"My favorite thing that is different about this campus is from day one, it is a fully inclusive playground," Rodriquez said. "All students can participate and use the equipment."
The campus also includes updated classroom technology, enhanced security systems and specialized learning spaces supporting the district's expanded elementary curriculum, including dedicated science instruction and a Foundations for Learning classroom focused on character development and workplace skills.
Students will continue to have access to music, art, physical education and library classes, while fifth graders returning to elementary schools will also be able to participate in the Ridgefield Youth Orchestra's expanding strings program before school.
The K-5 transition follows voter approval of the district's first capital levy, which helped fund construction of the new elementary school. The campus is expected to accommodate about 500 to 550 students, helping relieve overcrowding at Union Ridge and South Ridge elementary schools, which each enrolled roughly 700 students last year.
Construction of the new elementary school is estimated to cost approximately $52.5 million, according to prior reporting by The Reflector. Rodriquez said the project was uniquely funded through three sources rather than a traditional bond measure. About $21 million comes from developer impact fees paid as new neighborhoods are built, $16.5 million is being provided through the state's School Construction Assistance Program, and the remaining $15 million comes from Ridgefield School District's voter-approved capital and technology levy passed in February.
Rodriquez said the district was able to accelerate construction because it already owned the property and had completed preliminary site work, allowing the school to open sooner and provide overcrowding relief for students, families and staff.
Rodriquez said opening the school reflects years of community support and planning.
"I just want to express my gratitude to our community for continuing to support our schools and making this project possible," she said. "We certainly want to invite everyone to come out and celebrate with us."
Ridgefield families will have an opportunity to step inside the district’s newest school before classes begin.
Sunset Ridge Elementary will host a Back-to-School Night from 5 to 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, welcoming students and families to tour the new campus, according to the district website.
To learn more about the new school and pre-school year activities, visit ridgefieldsd.org/o/intermediate-school/article/2848767.
