WATERLOO, IOWA — A major step forward for education in Waterloo is now underway as the district breaks ground on a $165 million high school that will replace the city’s two existing high schools when it opens for the 2028–29 academic year.

The new building, which will serve about 1,900 students currently enrolled at East and West high schools, is being constructed on the site of Central Middle School, according to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

The massive project is funded through a statewide 1% sales tax that supports school infrastructure improvements across Iowa.

When finished, the high school will include an 85,000-square-foot academic wing, a 2,200-seat competition gym, an 850-seat performing arts auditorium, and a 250-seat small group theater. Athletic and student wellness facilities will feature a college-level weight and cardio room, wrestling room, 200-meter indoor track, turf fields, eight tennis courts, and extensive music practice rooms. Students will also benefit from an outdoor courtyard, a café, and a university-style commons designed to foster collaboration and community.

Once the new high school is complete, the district plans to repurpose the existing East and West high schools as facilities for eighth and ninth graders, while the current middle schools will shift to serve sixth and seventh grade students.

School board member Lyle Schmitt said the campus will offer unmatched opportunities for students to prepare for a wide range of futures:

“The new high school will provide the most diverse selection of career, technical and traditional courses in the state,” Schmitt said.

The district hopes the modern amenities and consolidated student body will improve learning outcomes, boost extracurricular opportunities, and help Waterloo compete with other Iowa communities in attracting families and retaining local graduates.

City leaders say the project is part of a larger push to modernize local education, expand dual-credit programs, and partner more closely with area businesses and colleges to prepare students for both college and the workforce.

Originally reported by Mike Kennedy in ASU MAG.