New elementary school to bolster education, safety, and community ties at Oklahoma base.
The Department of Defense awarded Altus Public Schools a $49,211,667 grant on July 23, 2025, to fund 80% of a $61,522,311 project to replace L. Mendel Rivers Elementary School at Altus Air Force Base.
The new facility, addressing severe capacity and condition issues that ranked the school 55th on the 2019 DoD Priority List, will serve 600 pre-K to fourth-grade students.
Built in 1959 and last upgraded in 1986, the current school faces safety and infrastructure deficiencies.
The grant, part of the Public Schools on Military Installations Program, prioritizes bases with urgent needs, as vetted by a multi-disciplinary federal team.
This investment enhances education for military children, supports troop retention, and strengthens community-base ties, reinforcing Altus AFB’s role as a hub of military excellence.
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