Taxpayers approved a $140 million bond referendum in November’s election that will allow Hopkins Public Schools to modernize and improve school facilities across the district. That vote of confidence set significant changes in motion, and the work is now underway.
Phase I focuses on four buildings: Hopkins High School, North Middle School, Gatewood Elementary, and Eisenhower Elementary. Planning and design work is already in motion. Schematic design was completed earlier this year, establishing general floor plans and the overall approach for each project. Design development began in March, with a goal of finalizing specifications by November. Major construction on Phase I projects is expected to begin in early 2027 and wrap up later that year, with some larger builds extending into 2028.
Including student and community voice
As designs for new spaces take shape, the people who know these buildings best are helping to determine what they become. Design Advisory Teams, made up of teachers, support staff, building leadership, and students who use the spaces every day, work directly with project architects to offer practical guidance and ground the process in school needs.
Student voice has been an important part of the process, too. High school students participated in a gallery walk, reviewing design concepts and sharing what ideas they liked and disliked. Elementary students were asked questions like, “If you had a magic wand, what is one thing you'd change about your school?” and “What part of your school do you love and why do you love it?”
Students participate in a Design Advisory Team to shape the future of their school.
In other words, the design process is shaped not just by blueprints and budgets, but by the voices of the people who will learn and work in these spaces for years to come.
North Middle School: Spaces that meet students where they are
The work planned at North Middle School is designed with one question at the center: what does it mean for a middle schooler to feel truly seen at school?
For sixth graders, the transition into middle school is about far more than academics. The social-emotional side of learning shapes everything else. Principal Julius Eromosele said their Pathfinder Project addresses both dimensions at once. A Pathfinder Project is a targeted update to a small part of a school, transforming it into a space that better supports collaboration, engagement, and modern teaching and learning.
“The nature of a sixth grader's learning is that social-emotional experiences are often directly linked to how they experience the academic space,” said Eromosele. “What the Pathfinder Project does is create an environment conducive to meeting the emotional and academic needs of any student on any day in any curriculum area.”
The physical changes at North reflect that belief. Flexible learning spaces that flow to the outside help to meet teachers and students where they are at and provide a space that fits the lesson of the day. Large windows will bring natural light into a currently windowless hallway. Nest and cave-like elements and calming rooms are designed to give students the ability to learn in the setting that works best for them.
Possible design for North Middle School's remodeled space.
North's staff has been working on interdisciplinary units that connect learning across subject areas, and Eromosele said the new building will bring that work to life. “The construction of the new space will allow for our curriculum planning across multiple subject areas to come alive in a space that is multifaceted, just like the learning,” he said.
Hopkins High School: Building for what’s next
The scope of work at Hopkins High School is one of the largest in Phase I and spans the next three years. Some work is already underway. A new stadium scoreboard, new lights for the softball and soccer fields, and the multi-sport dome will all move forward this year, on an earlier timeline because these projects will not disrupt the school day or require the level of detailed design discussions that adding on to or remodeling part of a school does.
A rendering of the reimagined Hopkins High School entrance.
In 2027, the school's main entry will be completely revamped with a welcoming plaza, updated signage, fresh landscaping, and a secure vestibule connected to the main office. A larger addition beginning in 2027 and completing in 2028 will include a dedicated wing for a ninth grade experience to help ensure that new high school students are set up for success. The addition will include outdoor spaces and areas for large and small collaborative group work. Dean of Students Mitchell Schank said the variety of spaces is intentional. “It allows all types of learners to try different ways to express their learning,” he said. Remodeling will also update career and technical education spaces and create dedicated areas for music, recording, and digital media programs.
Gatewood Elementary: Outdoor learning gets a boost
Gatewood Elementary has a focus on environmental education and outdoor learning, and the referendum projects are designed to strengthen that work. A new outdoor learning lab will include restrooms, storage, and a shade structure to support hands-on programming. The north playground will be remodeled with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant equipment. A six-foot fence will improve site security, and the entry will be reconfigured to improve sightlines and enhance safety.
Eisenhower Elementary: Room to make music
Students at Eisenhower Elementary currently use a gymnasium within the Eisenhower Community Center. A new gymnasium addition will give them a dedicated space for physical education within the secure envelope of the elementary school.
The band and music rooms will also be remodeled, allowing all music programming to be co-located. The new suite will include proper instrument storage inside the band and orchestra room, keeping hallways clear and instruments safe. Acoustical treatments will improve sound quality during full band rehearsals, and the layout will bring instrumental and general music teachers into closer proximity.
Elementary Band Director Danielle Boor said the new space will make a real difference. “I will be excited to show my students the new space with lockers for everyone,” she said, “aesthetically, the music suite will be consistent in its design between the spaces and look a lot better.”
More across the district
The next few years will bring visible, meaningful change to Hopkins school buildings. These are investments in more than just facilities. They are investments in the conditions that help students learn, grow, and feel at home in their schools.
These four Phase I projects represent only a portion of the work ahead. Phases II through IV extend construction through 2030, with additions or renovations planned at West Middle School, Alice Smith Elementary, Glen Lake Elementary, Meadowbrook Elementary, L.H. Tanglen Elementary, the former Katherine Curren Elementary building, and Harley Hopkins Family Center.
Districtwide, all sites will receive updated single-user restrooms with ADA-compliant fixtures and finishes, along with security upgrades including cameras, exit door alarms, updated locking hardware, and fire suppression systems.
More information about bond projects and timelines is available at HopkinsSchools.org/Referendum.