“I
was here for the groundbreaking, and now I’m seeing it complete for
the first time,” said Aries Cole, SDHS alumnus. “It’s inspiring, and I
hope that current and future students feel inspired enough by it to go
to college to further their education.”
Serving
as the new secure campus entryway, the facility includes a lobby,
student support spaces, modern classrooms, collaborative workspaces, a
staff lounge, and enhanced security technology.
“It’s
night and day from our old building,” said SDHS Principal Franny Del
Carmen. “This new façade is inviting, warm, and truly beautiful.
Importantly, it provides students with a college-level facility with
quality learning spaces. We also kept a lot of history inside the
building, so we are acknowledging our rich history while moving into the
future.”
Historical
items inside the new building include the historical wooden doors from
the former “Grey Castle” building and many framed images of SDHS
throughout the years.
Opened in 1882, San Diego High School (SDHS) is a top-ranked International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school. It takes pride in its rich history and alumni community, which includes former San Diego High teacher and the “Mother of Balboa Park,” Kate Sessions, and National Football League (NFL) player Art Powell, who graduated in the 1950s.
Following a voter-approved ballot measure, the city renewed its 99-year lease in October 2021, and construction
on the SDHS Whole Site Modernization began in early 2022. The project
includes the new classroom and student services facility, a
modernized lower and central campus quad, classroom renovations, and a
new College, Career, and Technical Education Engineering Design Lab.
“San
Diegans believe in investing in high-quality public schools in every
neighborhood across our district,” said Board of Education President
Richard Barrera. “Because of their efforts, this 144-year-old campus,
which is intimately part of our city, will not only stay at its historic
location, but will flourish for years to come.”