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Addressing Overcrowding: Expansion and Modernization Plans for Rogers and Puyallup High Schools

Members of the Bond Advisory Committee speaking to the group at meeting 3

On October 10, the Puyallup School District's Bond Advisory Committee (BAC) held its third meeting to address the district's pressing capacity challenges and review proposed school improvements. Joseph Romero, Puyallup School Board president, helped kick off the meeting and thanked members for their dedication to shaping the future of education for current and future students in Puyallup.

President Romero extended his appreciation to members who participated in a patron tour on October 1, which provided a firsthand look at Emerald Ridge High School, Ferrucci Junior High, and Sunrise Elementary. He encouraged others to join the upcoming November 5 tour, including visits to Puyallup High School, Aylen Junior High, and Waller Road Elementary—two schools on the priority list for the BAC to review.

The BAC's work builds on a decade of community and district efforts involving staff, students, families, and community volunteers. These groups have worked to research and plan the necessary improvements for the district's aging infrastructure and growing student population. Through ongoing community meetings, the district has gathered valuable feedback and answered questions to refine the plans, ensuring they meet the community's needs.

Major Projects Under Review

After reviewing hundreds of projects through various reports such as the Study & Survey Report, HVAC Deficiencies Report, Department of Health Inspections, and the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC), we identified nine high-priority projects. Among these are substantial improvements and expansions to Rogers High School and Puyallup High School, which face severe overcrowding and facility deficiencies.

Flowchart of Region 2 Schools in the Rogers High School catchment area

Rogers High School: Capacity and Urgent Needs

Rogers High School, located on a 40-acre site with the Heritage Recreation Center, has a built capacity of 1,320 students and 61 teaching stations. As of September 2024, the current enrollment is 1,704—384 students more than the built capacity allows. To alleviate issues with over-enrollment, Rogers relies on 15 portable classrooms. Enrollment projections indicate that enrollment will peak at 1,858 students in less than ten years, pushing the school to 538 students over its permanent capacity.

Two charts showing Rogers High School Capacity Forecast through 2031-32, current capacity -384 up to -538 capacity

The school's aging facilities still need to meet the needs of its growing student body. Many systems are outdated, and parts of the campus, such as the administration building and performing arts center, are classified as only "fair" in terms of building condition. The technology building, with a score of 59.75, is rated as "poor." While some buildings are eligible for state modernization funding, the BAC emphasized that significant new construction is needed to accommodate future student growth and consolidate existing structures for safety and efficiency.

Phase 1 of the CFAC proposed project would focus on building multi-story additions to accommodate 1,800 students, eliminating the need for portable classrooms. Improvements would include new science labs, Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces, expanded commons and administrative areas, and upgrades to athletic facilities. By the end of Phase 2, the goal is to provide 79 teaching stations within 299,080 square feet of space, positioning Rogers High School to meet future enrollment demands.

Rogers High School: Update Options

Rogers High School is currently exceeding its permanent capacity and is projected to have more students in the coming years. As a result, the school needs to expand to provide the facilities needed to support staff and students now and in the future. The Building Advisory Committee (BAC) is considering several critical options for addressing the school's challenges.

  1. Multi-Story Additions
    1. Phase 1 would focus on constructing new, multi-story classroom additions, which would add approximately 92,000 square feet of space and increase the school's capacity to 1,800 students.
    2. These additions would replace the 15 current portable classrooms, including new science labs, Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities, expanded common areas (cafeteria), and upgraded administrative offices.
    3. These additions would ensure the campus can grow vertically, conserving the existing site space and improving overall safety and supervision.
       
  2. Safety and Security Enhancements
    1. This option involves consolidating the existing campus buildings, many separate and spread out. By creating more centralized, connected spaces, students would no longer need to walk between multiple buildings, improving security and weather protection.
    2. Upgrades to entry points, focusing on secured, single-entry access for visitors, would enhance overall campus safety.
       
  3. Athletic Facility Upgrades
    1. The BAC is considering adding and upgrading athletic facilities, such as a new gym, locker rooms, and renovated fields. These improvements would address the needs of the growing student population and enhance access to modern sports facilities.
    2.  An expanded performing arts center and theater spaces are also under review to meet the increasing demand for extracurricular activities.
       
  4. Flexible Learning Spaces
    1. Rogers should incorporate flexible, multi-use learning spaces suitable for various learning formats, including small groups and project-based learning environments, into the new additions to meet 21st-century learning standards.
       
  5. Phase 2 – Long-Term Expansion
    1. Phase 2 would involve additional classroom spaces and further modernization of older buildings. The goal would be to ensure that Rogers High School remains flexible enough to handle the district's future needs, which may include transitioning to a 9-12 model.
Flowchart of Region 3 Schools within the Puyallup High School catchment area

Puyallup High School: Overcrowding in an Urban Setting

Puyallup High School, located on a much smaller urban site in downtown Puyallup, faces even more significant challenges. With a permanent capacity of only 1,262 students, the school currently serves 1,720 students—458 more than its design allows. Like Rogers, Puyallup High School relies on portable classrooms (13 currently, soon to be 19 with the pending six-classroom portable addition this school year) to manage its overcrowding. Projections indicate that enrollment will reach 1,973 students within the next decade, placing the school at 711 students over capacity.

Chart: Puyallup High School Capacity Forecast through 2031-32 current -458 up to -711 before 2032

The small size of the Puyallup High School campus further complicates expansion efforts. Compared to Rogers, Puyallup High School does not have the space to accommodate the full parking or athletic field space provided at other district comprehensive high schools. Many of the school's buildings are outdated and nearing the end of their usable life, with some scoring as low as 46.50 ("poor") on building condition reports. Unfortunately, the school has already experienced the closure of the Library Science Building before the 2023-24 school year, further limiting space for students and staff.

The BAC will consider CFAC's proposed solution, which involves a multi-phase master plan to add new multi-story buildings and replace older structures with modern facilities. Phase 1 would include constructing a new three-story building to replace the outdated library and science building and expanding to accommodate 1,800 students. Future phases would address critical infrastructure improvements, including a new gym, expanded performing arts spaces, and permanent classrooms replacing portables. The goal is to develop the school to 299,080 square feet, ensuring it has 79 teaching stations to support the projected enrollment growth.

Puyallup High School: Update Options

Puyallup High School faces even more significant space limitations due to its smaller urban site, making careful planning critical. The BAC is reviewing several potential solutions for this unique site:

  1. Multi-Story Replacement Building
    1. To maximize the use of the limited campus footprint, the committee is considering a multi-story replacement for the library and science building, which is no longer in use. This new three-story structure would add crucial classroom space and house updated science labs, CTE spaces, and general classrooms, bringing the school's total capacity to 1,800 students.
    2. This vertical design would also help reduce the portable classrooms currently used for overflow, centralize teaching spaces, and improve campus flow and supervision.
       
  2. Upgraded Gym and Athletics Facilities
    1. The BAC is exploring options to replace the existing gymnasium with a larger facility that can meet the growing needs of the student population and provide space for more teams, practice schedules, and events.
    2. Renovations to the school's aging athletic fields are also under consideration, although the small campus footprint limits expansion. These upgrades would improve the overall student experience, especially for those participating in sports and extracurricular activities.
       
  3. Modernized Performing Arts Spaces
    1. Puyallup High School's performing arts spaces need to be updated and are undersized. Expanding these areas to accommodate increased student interest and community events is being discussed as part of the school's upgrade options. A new auditorium or expanded theater space would allow for enhanced performing arts programs.
       
  4. Campus-Wide Safety and Infrastructure Improvements
    1. Many of Puyallup's buildings are in poor condition and nearing the end of their usable life. Comprehensive safety improvements, including single-point entry systems, improved exterior lighting, and security upgrades, would be implemented.
    2. Infrastructure improvements to the school's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems would modernize it and improve energy efficiency, reducing long-term operational costs.
       
  5. New Cafeteria and Commons Area
    1. The school's commons area needs to be expanded to accommodate the increasing number of students and reduce crowded conditions during mealtimes and events. 
       
  6. Future Expansion: Phase 2
    1. Puyallup High School, like Rogers, is also considering Phase 2 upgrades in the future. These upgrades involve adding multi-story buildings to replace the oldest structures, like the gym or administrative offices. These changes would be designed to be flexible to accommodate a potential transition to a 9-12 high school model.

Comparing Update Options: Rogers vs. Puyallup High School

Feature

Rogers High School

Puyallup High School

Capacity Expansion:

Phase 1: Add 92,000 sq. ft. for 1,800 students

New 3-story building for 1,800 students

Current Portable Classrooms:

15 portables

19 portables

Phase 2 Expansion:

Additional classrooms, flexible learning spaces

Multi-story buildings to replace oldest parts

 

Athletics Upgrades:

New gym, renovated fields

Expanded gym, athletic fields upgrade

Performing Arts:

Expanded performing arts center

New performing arts spaces and auditorium

 

Safety Improvements:

Consolidated buildings for secured campus

Single-point entry, exterior lighting, security

 

Commons/Cafeteria:

Expanded commons area

New commons/cafeteria

Site Challenges:

 

Large 44-acre site with room to expand

Limited urban site restricts expansion

 

Table of five men discussing options at the Bond Advisory Committee meeting

 

Man holding mic and asking the group a question at the bond advisory committee meeting

 

Additional Focus: The Pool Debate

The Bond Advisory Committee’s first priority is to ensure enough classroom space that provides the core academic requirements of our students. In addition to classroom and infrastructure needs, the committee is also weighing options for school pools. Both Rogers and Puyallup High Schools have on-site pools, but neither meets current competition standards. Emerald Ridge does not have an on-site pool. For example, the pool at Puyallup High School is not regulation-sized for Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) standards, limiting its ability to offer some swim sports, such as diving.

One option is to construct a district-wide aquatic center, which could serve all three high schools and provide a centralized, high-quality facility. Supporters of this option argue that it would be a more cost-efficient solution, as maintaining three separate pools would be significantly more expensive. However, concerns about transportation and reduced access to pools during the school day for students at Puyallup and Emerald Ridge High Schools have pushed some to keep pools at individual campuses.

A man and a women reviewing options at a table during the bond advisory committee meeting

 

A woman in a black and white dress speaking to committee members

 

Looking to the Future: A 9-12 High School Model

As part of their long-term planning, the Puyallup School Board has also asked the BAC to consider preserving the option of transitioning to a 9-12 high school model. This shift would align with the WIAA's high school athletics structure, which includes ninth-grade students. It would provide them with better access to advanced academic and extracurricular opportunities.

The transition to include ninth-grade students in high schools would require additional space and resources. To accommodate the incoming students, more, classrooms and expanded common/support areas would be needed. The BAC is exploring flexible expansion options to preserve the potential change and ensure the district can adapt to evolving needs.

Next Steps 

Both Rogers High School and Puyallup High School deal with significant capacity and infrastructure challenges that must be addressed to provide students with safe, modern learning environments. Both schools are currently operating well above their intended capacity. With student enrollment expected to grow in the coming years, the improvements proposed by the BAC will be crucial in ensuring that the district can continue to meet the needs of its students. The BAC remains committed to gathering community input and making thoughtful, fiscally responsible recommendations to improve the district's schools and prepare for the future.

Together, we can ensure that Puyallup School District continues to provide excellent learning environments for every student.

Review all Bond Advisory Committee materials and presentations on their webpage at http://www.puyallupsd.org/bac 

We have launched an informal question for the week to gather community input. Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of our schools.

Visit the Bond Advisory Committee webpage to learn more about the projects under consideration and take our weekly survey on our website.  


 

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