Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/26/26

Key Takeaways

  • Cheney School District announced plans for a new elementary school in Airway Heights, Washington, expected to open in fall 2027 and serve about 500 students in grades K–5.
  • The project is funded by a $72 million bond approved in 2024 and is intended to reduce overcrowding and eliminate reliance on portable classrooms in the district.
  • District officials say the new school will include expanded facilities such as a larger gym, multipurpose space, and field to better support both students and the broader community.

Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027. The school will play home to about 500 students in grades K–5.

According to local news, funding comes from a $72-million bond approved by voters in 2024. The purpose of the new facility is to relieve overcrowding in the district’s five existing elementary schools, all of which are operating above capacity and have funneled students into portable classrooms. The district also estimates another 760 students to enroll over the next ten years, 500 from Airway Heights, according to The Spokesman-Review.

“To get out of portables is going to be fantastic,” said Dr. Ben Ferney, district superintendent. “Sunset Elementary, our one elementary school in Airway Heights, is huge; it’s over 600 students. So that is going to be the school that is relieved the most.”

The district partnered with Intergus Architecture and Garco Construction for the project’s design and construction, respectively.

“With that growth, obviously, you build schools where the kids are. So being able to build here is awesome,” Ferney said. “It’s got a larger gym, it’s got a larger multipurpose space, it’s got a huge field. So I think the community use is going to be pretty big.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • GeoCam and UCLA: Modernizing Campus Accessibility Mapping

    In early 2025, UCLA partnered with GeoCam to capture and modernize its pedestrian infrastructure data. The goal was ambitious but clear: to produce a high-accuracy, imagery-backed digital map of every sidewalk, pathway, ramp, and ADA-related feature on UCLA’s 419-acre campus.