Education
Richmond High School celebrated a historic milestone Saturday morning as community leaders, alumni, students, and educators gathered to break ground on a long-awaited modernization project that will transform the century-old campus.
The $280 million project will unfold in several phases, beginning with the construction of a new two-story, 60,000-square-foot building along 23rd Street. The first phase will include 23 modern classrooms, a new music wing, and specialized spaces for the school’s health and law academies. Other campus buildings, including the large gym and the 600 building, will later receive upgrades and refurbishments.
“This magnificent two-story classroom building represents a lot more than some steel, concrete and glass,” said Melissa Payne, Interim Associate Superintendent of Operations for the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD). “It represents hope, it represents progress, and it represents an unwavering commitment to educational excellence.”
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
Richmond High first opened in 1907 and has served as a cornerstone of the community for generations. Superintendent Cheryl Cotton, a graduate of WCCUSD schools, reflected on that legacy during her remarks.
“Richmond High School has stood for over 100 years as a beacon of opportunity and resilience,” Cotton said. “Today’s groundbreaking isn’t about construction, it’s about transformation. We are modernizing a school that reflects the brilliance of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the strength of our community.”
School Board Clerk Guadalupe Enllana spoke about what the modernization represents for the future of the Richmond High community.
“We are more than breaking ground today,” Enllana said. “We are celebrating the renewal of a school that has stood as a cornerstone in Richmond for generations. This modernization is not just about walls and upgraded facilities. It’s about creating a space that reflects the brilliance, resilience, and potential of the students who walk these halls.”
Enllana emphasized that the project is rooted in equity and opportunity: “To our Richmond High students, this is for you. You deserve a school that inspires you, that supports you, and prepares you for the future.”
Community Pride
The event drew officials from Richmond, San Pablo, and Contra Costa County. Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, a Richmond High alum, celebrated the community’s perseverance.
“It is a long time in the making,” Zepeda said. “Let this building be the beginning of a wonderful new future where history will be made and leaders will be created.”
San Pablo Mayor Arturo Cruz praised the collaborative effort between the two cities and the district.
“This modernization project is critically necessary for the benefit of our children, and we look forward to its full completion,” Cruz said. “It reflects a comprehensive vision focusing on learning, safety, equity, and enhancing student academic achievement.”
Principal Rocio Reyes, both a graduate of Richmond High and its current leader, called the moment bittersweet as the community prepares to say goodbye to the existing campus buildings.
Richmond High alumni gather to say goodbye to “the front” before demolition
Richmond’s Oiler community gathered Friday evening for a celebration to bid farewell to the entryway of Richmond High School, the familiar face of the campus that will soon be fenced off and demolished as part of a major reconstruction project. “It’s an opportunity for folks to come out,
Soren Hemmila
“This new building will not only honor the history, but it’s also going to carry forward the pride and resilience that defines Richmond High School,” Reyes said. “It represents the belief that our students deserve the very best, and it will manifest into a physical space that reflects their excellence.”
Construction is expected to begin immediately, with the new classroom building scheduled as the first major piece of the modernization.
“This building is for you,” Payne told students and alumni in the crowd. “Every classroom, every collaboration space, every corner of the outdoor quad is designed with you in mind.”
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