Allison BarnetteThe Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is dedicating $604 million toward the rebuilding of schools severely damaged or destroyed during the Palisades Fire in January. Roughly 5,000 students from three schools were displaced during the evacuation and relocated to other learning sites on a temporary basis.
The rebuild includes two elementary schools and one high school, all part of the fabric of the community that helps shape its identity. Palisades is a small, tight-knit suburb of Los Angeles, with just over 23,000 residents. LAUSD views this rebuild as not only essential, but a critical and immediate need.
Among the damage, Marquez Charter Elementary was destroyed. Palisades Charter Elementary bungalow classroom spaces were burned completely, and its main administration building was badly damaged. Palisades High suffered damage to approximately 30% of instructional and extracurricular facilities.
Funding for these construction projects comes from voter-approved Measure US Bond that had passed just two months prior to the fires. The $9 billion bond was originally intended to modernize aging school campuses with roofing, plumbing, HVAC system upgrades, technology, ADA compliance and earthquake readiness.
Utilizing nearly 7% of the bond will enable the district to fully integrate these changes from the ground up, making these new schools safer and more resilient to disasters in the process. With the expectation of insurance reimbursement and federal assistance, the price tag could be even more cost-effective for LAUSD.
A timeline for completion of the schools is set for the end of 2028. Some emergency contracts are being bid through June 30, for immediate needs such as debris removal, utility setup and temporary facilities. Bidding for more permanent full-scale construction efforts is scheduled later this month.
LAUSD oversees nearly 800 traditional schools, serving approximately 430,000 K–12 students and a student body of over 550,000 when including early education, adult learners and charter programs.
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