SPS Opens Three New Campuses to Kick Off the School Year

Seattle Public Schools celebrated the start of the school year with the grand opening of three newly built campuses: John Rogers Elementary, Montlake Elementary, and Mercer International Middle School. 

The ribbon-cutting ceremonies at Montlake and Mercer were attended by Mayor Bruce Harrell, who joined Superintendent Fred Podesta, students, school board members, and community leaders in marking these milestones with both celebration and reflection on the schools’ histories. 

The new Montlake features a modernized design that respects the scale of the original landmark building while expanding the capacity for up to 500 K–5 students. The campus includes improved accessibility, shared learning spaces, and sustainable features funded by the 2019 Building Excellence V (BEX V) Capital Levy. 

At John Rogers, a new 82,000 square foot building will provide equitable learning environments and future expansion capacity. Designed as the district’s first Net-Zero Energy building, it includes geothermal wells, solar panels, and daylight-filled classrooms. The site also features terraced outdoor learning areas, natural play spaces, and a secure main entrance. 

Mercer replaced the existing building with a 174,000 sq. ft. mass timber facility designed for 1,000 students in grades 6–8. Academic neighborhoods, flexible support spaces, and a synthetic turf field are part of the plan to foster community and academic success.