Groundbreaking Kicks off Rainier Beach High School Replacement Project

As the school community looked on, district and community leaders officially launched the capital levy-funded replacement of Rainier Beach High School.  

After eight years of advocating for a new school, construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 23 with a crowd of close to 1,000 students, staff, alumni, and community members buzzing with anticipation.

Prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, Rainier Beach came together for an assembly to celebrate the start of this major new phase in the school’s history. Several students – both new and old – shared how special the Rainier Beach community is. 

The project has had a long road, but the deep dedication of former Seattle School Board President Betty Patu and the commitment and involvement of the Rainier Beach students, alumni, and neighborhood community kept the project moving forward.  

“It’s been a long journey, and I still can’t believe it’s happening,” said Ahlaam Ibrahim, a 2016 graduate who was a strong advocate for the project. “Even last year, when they said it’s happening, I said it’s not happening until they break the building. And now they have, and I got to witness it. That’s nice.”  

Replacement of Rainier Beach High School is funded by the Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V), which was approved by Seattle voters in 2019, and the Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics V Capital Levy, approved by voters in 2022.  

You can learn more and follow the progress on the project page.

Groundbreaking Photo Slideshow