JCPS breaks ground on new $62 million W.E.B. DuBois Academy campus

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools broke ground Wednesday on a new W.E.B. DuBois Academy.

It was a big celebration as district and school leaders officially kicked off the $62 million facility for the all-boys school. The new campus is off Poplar Level Road in the Newburg neighborhood.

"This will be more than a building. This will serve as a symbol of this district's commitment to racial equity," said JCPS board member Dr. Corrie Shull, who has been a longtime supporter.

The academy was created for a students often over-looked and under-served - Black and brown boys.

"We can walk tall. We can walk proud. We can walk strong, and we don't have to hide that, when we are around each other," said student Oren Hatchett.

Currently, middle and high school students are in separate buildings, but this new school will bring them together. It will be built on district-owned land next to Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

"We wanted this to remain in the Newburg area, to be honest and candid, so we were looking at a variety of spots," JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio said. "Any time we can use our own land, that expedites the process.

The superintendent said the groundbreaking was special moment for him because his first board meeting as leader of the district included approval for the creation of the academy.

"Bringing all of DuBois' young men and staff into one, state-of-the-art school building will not only provide efficiencies but, most importantly, improve the sense of belonging, pride in the school and educational experience for the students," Pollio said.

Principal Dr. Monica Hunter said she wants her students to get the support they deserve.

"A lot of times our Black and brown boys fall through the cracks. They're just a number in other places, but at Dubois Academy, they are students. They are scholars. They are leaders," she said.

JCPS said the new building will include:

185,000 square feet
Three stories with lots of natural light
Second and third floors divided horizontally to separate middle and high school
65 classrooms, most arranged around the perimeter walls with windows
Two gyms and separate locker rooms for middle and high
Middle school gym doubles as a storm shelter
Geothermal heating/cooling system
Energy efficient windows, roof, lighting, and exterior materials

A new turf athletic field and stadium for football and other sports will be built on the same site as the school.

JCPS says the new W.E.B Dubois campus will be the educational home for up to 1,000 male students in grades 6-12. It is expected to open in August 2026.

The district has opened four new schools in the past two years: Wilkerson, Perry, and Indian Trail Elementary Schools and Echo Trail Middle School. It plans to build 20 new schools over the next decade.

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