Permits issued for Pasco’s $138M high school project. Construction starts next month
Things are moving quickly for Pasco’s third high school.
The city recently signed off on a slate of permits allowing Pasco School District contractors to begin work on the $138 million project.
And next month, residents should begin to see some activity at the 6091 Burns Road site. The school district plans a ground breaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, to begin construction.
Voters just narrowly approved a ballot measure earlier this year to pay for several new construction projects, including a third comprehensive high school that will ease overcrowding at two of the largest public schools in Washington state — Chiawana and Pasco high schools.
About 1,800 students were served this past school year in exterior portable buildings between the two high schools, and the city’s population is projected to grow by more than a third by 2031.
The 300,000-square-foot, two-story school will sit on a 65-acre campus, according to permit materials.
It will house classroom wings, administrative suites, a media center and a 650-seat indoor auditorium and athletics wing.
About 2,000 students will attend classes there.
The site will include facilities to house football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis and track and field programs.
The new school will have a football field, but not a stadium. Varsity football will play games at Edgar Brown Stadium.
The 21-year, $195.5 million bond measure also will pay to build of a small innovative career and college academy in East Pasco that will exclusively serve up to 600 in-district high school students, who will graduate ready for the workforce with credentials, industry certifications and hands-on experience.
Both schools — which remain unnamed — will open to students in September 2025.
This story was originally published July 21, 2023 at 12:42 PM.
