The district says the school is scheduled to open in 2017 and initially will be used as swing space while the district replaces three aging elementary campuses—University Park, Bradfield and Hyer—between 2017 and 2020. In 2020-21, it will become Highland Park's fifth elementary.
The district is paying for the facilities upgrades with funds from a $361 million bond issue approved last year by voters.
The last time Highland Park broke ground for a elementary school was in 1948.
The new campus is designed to offer flexible learning spaces, a secluded outdoor classroom with a garden and classrooms averaging 800 square feet.
The district has about 7,000 students in four elementary schools, one intermediate school, one middle school and one high school.