Heights High reopens on Aug. 21

An aerial view of the front of the high school showcases the restored front facade, new additions on the sides of the building, and the sports field. Photo by Adam Dew.

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“After years of planning, designing, moving and renovating, it is finally time to open the new Heights High,” said CH-UH Superintendent Talisa Dixon. “We are looking forward to welcoming the community to tour the building at our grand opening in September. Heights High will be a showpiece for the community and provide our students with a building that is designed for 21st-century education.”

Cleveland Heights High School will reopen its doors to students on Aug. 21 for the start of the 2017–18 school year. The building, originally constructed in 1926, has undergone an extensive transformation over the past two years. The most dramatic change is the removal of the 1960s-era science wing, returning the look of the front courtyard to that of a collegiate quadrangle, with restoration and a new open front lawn.

The Heights community is invited to celebrate the reopening of Heights High on Sunday, Sept. 10, 1–4 p.m. The community open house will include tours of the building, a dedication ceremony, commemorative merchandise and other offerings in conjunction with the Heights Schools Foundation.

Important historical and architectural aspects of the building, such as the iconic clock tower, brick facade and ornate auditorium, have been retained through the school’s transformation into a contemporary learning space.

Completely modernized from the ground up, classrooms and labs are now state-of-the-art, while musical, performing and visual arts all have brand new, dedicated spaces.

Student-athletes and physical education classes will have access to the latest athletic facilities and equipment, including a community-accessible swimming pool. [The school district and the city of Cleveland Heights are still working out the details on community access to the pool.]

With the high school project complete, the school district is now renovating Monticello and Roxboro middle schools, to complete the first part of Phase 1 of its Master Facilities Plan.

The renovations will ensure that the middle school buildings operate more efficiently, with planned updates to the HVAC, electrical systems and technology. Each classroom will receive new air conditioning, flooring, ceilings and paint in order to enhance the learning environment for students.

During construction, middle school students will be consolidated into one Heights Middle School on the Wiley Campus until Monticello and Roxboro schools reopen in August 2019.

“I know there has been much discussion about the upcoming renovations to our middle schools,” said Dixon. “We have looked at all of our options and determined that the best path forward is to continue with the modest renovations planned for Monticello and Roxboro. The work may not be to the extent of what was envisioned several years ago, but I believe the renovations will make a difference in improving the educational space we provide for our students.

“Even in the midst of all the attention afforded the building projects, our staff remains focused on providing an excellent education for each and every student. This month, our high schoolers will be in a newly renovated and modernized building, our middle schoolers will come together on one IB-authorized [International Baccalaureate] campus, and our youngest students will be starting their journey as members of Tiger Nation.”