Jefferson High School in north Portland, Ore., broke ground on May 29, 2026, on a new $466 million campus, marking the beginning of massive modernization project, kptv.com reported.

Procedeo is the primary project management contractor.

The new Jefferson High School will be built on the existing 14-acre campus' north end.

The all-electric, multi-story building will feature "state-of-the-art" academic, athletic and arts facilities.

Voters approved in 2020 and 2025 school bond measure to fund the rebuild, kptv.com reported.

As Portland Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong said the groundbreaking represents a major milestone for the district.

"This is a declaration that north and northeast Portland deserve beautiful spaces, excellent opportunities and schools that reflect the brilliance of the young people who walk these halls every single day," Jefferson High School Principal Drake Shelton said.

The rebuild comes as the district is working to boost enrollment, kptv.com reported.

Since 2012, PPS said it has completed more than 1,100 health, safety and modernization projects that have improved every school in the district.

This work on aging school buildings has improved water quality, and provided security upgrades, new roofs, asbestos and radon remediation, lead paint stabilization, new fire alarms and sprinklers, more accessibility and seismic retrofits.

Nine schools -- Benson, Franklin, Grant, McDaniel, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kellogg MS, Faubion PK-8 and the new Multiple Pathways to Graduation program building –- modernized or rebuilt.

Aside from the work on Jefferson, projects also are under way at Cleveland High School and Ida B. Wells High School. ♣