Highland High School rebuild remains on track for January 2027
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — More than three years after a fire heavily damaged Highland High School, the next phase of the school's rebuild is nearing completion.
Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 says construction remains on schedule for students and staff to move into the first phase of the new campus following winter break on Jan. 4, 2027.
Construction crews have also started work on a new six-court tennis complex and parking lot across Bench Road. The courts will be used by Highland High School student-athletes and the community through a partnership between School District 25 and the City of Pocatello.
The rebuild follows an accidental electrical fire in April 2023 that damaged about 75,000 square feet of the school.
The first phase of the project, set to open in January, includes six classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen and commons area, along with a multi-level gymnasium, weight room, indoor track, wrestling room, locker rooms and athletic offices.
Additional facilities are expected to open in July 2027, including choir, band, orchestra and drama classrooms, as well as performing arts spaces.
"This project has always been about restoring more than a building," Superintendent Dr. Douglas Howell said. "Highland is a place where generations of learners have built friendships, discovered their passions, and created lifelong memories. Every milestone brings us closer to welcoming learners and staff back into a campus that honors that legacy while providing exceptional learning spaces for the future."
While the first phase is set to open after winter break, construction will continue on the remaining portions of the campus, including performing arts spaces and music and theater classrooms.
The district says the full rebuild remains on schedule for completion by August 2027, allowing students to begin the 2027-28 school year in the finished campus.
Those interested in following the project's progress can find updates, renderings and time-lapse videos on the district's Highland High School rebuild website.
