MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Sumner High School breaks ground on next phase of $412M expansion

Jul 28, 2026, 8:59 AM | Updated: 9:06 am

Sumner school expansion...

A rendering of the Sumner High School expansion plan. (Photo courtesy of the Sumner School District)

(Photo courtesy of the Sumner School District)

Construction is underway on the next phase of Sumner High School’s more-than-$412 million expansion.

The school’s remodel includes a plethora of athletic additions such as a new gym, pool, multi-use turf fields for baseball, fastpitch, and soccer, and lighted tennis courts.

Other academic-related building changes were addressed as well, including wider hallways for increased safety and accessibility, new CTE labs, a band room, and a performing arts center.

Sumner High School expansion is unfolding across three distinct phases

Phase 1 has already been completed, finishing the first of three buildings located at the heart of the school’s campus.

Construction on Phase 2, the West Building, is currently underway as the planning, design, and permitting have all been finalized. Phase 2 of the expansion has a budget of $114 million and an estimated completion date of Fall 2028.

Further down the road, Phase 3 will begin planning, design, and permitting in 2028, with construction expected to begin in 2030. Phase 3 includes construction efforts on the performing arts center, gym, and pool.

Phase 3 of the expansion has a budget of $298.2 million and has projections to be completed in the Fall of 2032.

The 2024 voter-approved school bond is funding the project for the 99,000-square-foot building. The expansion is part of a district-wide plan to improve safety and address increased enrollment, with other projects continuing through 2032.

Sumner project responds to steadily growing student enrollment

Sumner High School has a net capacity (number of students) of 1,830, the largest of any other school in the Sumner School District. Sumner’s net capacity is capable of holding nearly 600 more students than Bonney Lake High School.

No information was provided on where Sumner High School’s revised net capacity will be following the expansion project’s completion.

The Sumner School District anticipates student enrollment to gradually increase over the next few years, with a total increase of 1,027 projected October student enrollment from 2024 to 2029.

For comparison, from 2018 to 2023, October student enrollment for the Sumner School District increased by only 599 across all schools in the district, with the largest increases at the middle and high school levels.

Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

A photo of a bald eagle. (Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images)...

MyNorthwest Staff

Lummi Nation member pleads guilty to federal charges after two bald eagles allegedly shot

A 39-year-old Lummi Nation member pleaded guilty Thursday to illegal firearms possession and two violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

3 hours ago

The location of the Vertical Evacuation Tower will be near the Westport Marina. It will be the thir...

Tom Brock

Rising above the risk: Westport breaks ground on Washington’s newest tsunami refuge

The city of Westport broke ground Saturday on what will become Washington state's latest tsunami-safe location: a new vertical evacuation tower.

19 hours ago

Dolly Parton...

Associated Press

Dolly Parton’s nephew wants more time to defend himself against restraining order from her estate

Dolly Parton’s nephew wants more time to get a lawyer in place to defend himself against a temporary restraining order.

2 days ago

bellingham crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Northbound I-5 in Bellingham fully reopens after 3-car crash; injuries reported

Northbound I-5 has fully reopened in Bellingham at Iowa St., milepost 253.

2 days ago

coast guard murder 18-year-old...

MyNorthwest Staff

18-year-old charged with murder in Skyway shooting death of Coast Guard officer

An 18-year-old Covington man is now charged with second-degree murder in the August shooting death of Coast Guard Lt. Connor Overstreet.

2 days ago

A partially unzipped grey duffel bag is overflowing with United States one hundred dollar bills. (P...

Gee Scott

Gee: Wait, what?! Man finds $128K in cash sitting on top of an ATM

A 37-year-old man in Texas walked up to an ATM and discovered something you generally don’t find sitting on top: $128,514 in cash. What’s your next move?

2 days ago

Sumner High School breaks ground on next phase of $412M expansion