The Jefferson Parish School Board is nearing the final stages of planning for two new schools, each with a budget of $48 million, aiming to open them by the 2026-27 school year.
At a recent school board committee meeting, architects presented renderings of the new St. Ville and Washington campuses. Both schools are designed to accommodate 1,000 students, ranging from pre-K to eighth grade. These new facilities are part of a districtwide reorganization plan approved by the board last year, which included closing six schools and relocating two others.
The new St. Ville campus will be constructed on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Helen Cox High School, located at 2200 Lapalco Blvd. in Harvey. This site was chosen after the board determined that the previous St. Ville location was too small. During the construction period, St. Ville students have been temporarily relocated to Woodmere Elementary.
Similarly, the new Washington campus will be built on the current site of Bunche Elementary. To make way for the new construction, part of the Bunche campus will be demolished starting in October. Students will continue attending classes at Bunche during this phase. Once the new Washington campus is completed, the remaining buildings at Bunche will be demolished to create parking spaces.
Both new campuses feature a “pod” design, where four or more classrooms are arranged around a central common area with its own entrance. This common area will include a science lab and flexible seating that can be configured for small-group instruction. The “pod” design also enhances safety; in the event of an emergency, such as a school shooting, the entrances to each pod can be closed off, keeping classrooms out of view.
The construction contracts for both projects are expected to be put out for bid later this year. The St. Ville campus is being designed by Lachin Architects, while the Washington campus is being designed by Grace Hebert Curtis.
