HISD to celebrate new building dedication and two groundbreakings in May

Three HISD schools are celebrating construction milestones this month — Fonwood Early Childhood Center will dedicate its new building, while Wharton Dual Language Academy and Barbara Jordan High School for Careers will celebrate the start of construction on their new schools.

The first event will be held at Fonwood Early Childhood Center, where school officials plan to formally dedicate the new school that opened its doors to students for this school year. The new school, which serves the district’s youngest learners, features 27 classrooms, including two special education centers and specialized visual arts and science labs, as well as three outdoor play areas and an outdoor learning center. It also features vibrant interior colors with plenty of natural light throughout.

Later this week, Wharton Dual Language Academy will hold a groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction on their renovated and expanded campus. Plans call for new learning spaces and labs, a new gym and library, an interior courtyard preserving heritage trees, and a grand, three-story, glass entry way. Once complete, the new facility will hold up to 900 students and eliminate all temporary buildings on site.

Next week, Barbara Jordan High School for Careers will host a groundbreaking to celebrate the start of construction on their new building, which will be home to a regional career hub and accommodate 600 to 800 students from area high schools. Students will spend half their day at their home schools and other half at Jordan participating in high-demand career training that provides students with real-world experiences in a variety of fields.

Fonwood Early Childhood Center Dedication

Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at 9 a.m.

9707 Mesa Drive, 77078

Wharton Dual Language Academy

Friday, May 5, 2017, at 9:30 a.m.

900 West Gray Street, 77019

Barbara Jordan High School for Careers

Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at 1 p.m.

5800 Eastex Freeway, 77026

Wharton and Barbara Jordan are both funded by the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program. They are among 40 schools, including 29 high schools, being renovated or rebuilt as part of the bond program. Active construction is currently underway on roughly three dozen projects — more than at any other time in district history. Almost half of the schools in the program will be complete and open to students by the end of the summer.

Fonwood was not funded by the bond.

For more information on HISD building programs, visit BuildHISD.org.