The Waterloo (Iowa) district has broken ground on a $165 million high school that will take the place of two existing campuses when it opens in 2028-29.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the new school is being built on the site of Central Middle School.
Construction of the school is being funded by a state 1% sales tax. It will bring together an estimated 1,900 students from East and West high schools.
Preliminary details of the school: an 85,000-square-foot academic wing; a 2,200-seat competition gymnasium; an 850-seat performing arts auditorium; a 250-seat small group performance theater; a college-level weight room and cardio room; a wrestling room; a 200-meter indoor track; turf multipurpose fields; eight tennis courts; music practice rooms; an outdoor courtyard; a cafe; and a university-style commons area.
The East and West high school buildings will be converted to facilities for eighth and ninth graders, and the existing middle schools will house sixth and seventh graders.
School board member Lyle Schmitt said the new high school will provide the most diverse selection of career, technical and traditional courses in the state.
