CAHS Campus Improvement Initiative

Indianapolis Public Schools, in partnership with Crispus Attucks High School and the IPS Foundation, is advancing the Crispus Attucks High School Expansion Project — a long-term investment designed to support student well-being, preserve the school’s historic legacy, and strengthen connections to the surrounding community.

The project, which will add four new specialty classrooms, an advanced health lab, and a regulation-size gymnasium to the Attucks campus, is anchored by a $25 million investment from Indiana University Health and the Indy Health District in partnership with the Indianapolis Foundation, and additional funding through IPS bonds.

CAHS Visioning Survey

As planning continues for the Crispus Attucks High School expansion, we want to better understand what parts of CAHS history and legacy are most meaningful to our Tiger community. Your input will help inform how the school’s story, values, and impact are reflected in future spaces.

Please fill out the linked survey to let us know what matters most to you.

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENT CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS

How We Got Here: Community-Led Visioning

The foundation of this project was shaped through a robust community engagement process that ensured the voices of students, families, alumni, neighbors, and community partners were reflected in the long-term vision for the campus.

This early engagement included:

Multiple public community meetings
Neighborhood association meetings
School, staff, and student meetings
Online surveys
Community advisory group sessions
Hands-on workshops and school board presentations

These efforts resulted in a shared master plan, guiding principles, and programmatic priorities that continue to inform all design and operational decisions.

Public Meeting Presentations

Public Meeting Presentations

Upcoming Key Milestones

The following milestones outline the anticipated progression of work:

Spring–Fall 2026: City approvals and permitting
Late Spring 2026: Site mobilization, early utility work, and parking preparation
Fall 2026: Project groundbreaking
Winter 2028: Anticipated completion of the Health & Wellness Expansion

Dates are subject to change as approvals and coordination continue.

2026 Groundbreaking Ceremony

Upcoming Key Milestones

The following milestones outline the anticipated progression of work:

Spring–Fall 2026: City approvals and permitting
Late Spring 2026: Site mobilization, early utility work, and parking preparation
Fall 2026: Project groundbreaking
Winter 2028: Anticipated completion of the Health & Wellness Expansion

Dates are subject to change as approvals and coordination continue.

Recent Community Engagement Materials

IPS remains committed to ongoing transparency and communication as the project advances. Materials from the most recent community engagement meeting are available below and will be updated as future meetings occur. These materials reflect the current design direction and upcoming phases of work.

Community Engagement #1 – December 10, 2025
Community Engagement #2 — March 11, 2026

Community Engagement #1 – December 10, 2025

Community Engagement #2 — March 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Crispus Attucks campus located in an area of environmental concern, and how is that being addressed?

A: The Crispus Attucks campus is not an active site of environmental concern. Protecting the health and safety of students, neighbors, and the surrounding community is a top priority for this project, and environmental conditions have been carefully reviewed as part of the planning process.

A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan was developed specifically for this site and complies with all federal, state, and local requirements, including oversight by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Marion County. This plan governs how soil and stormwater are managed during construction and includes required weekly and rain‑event inspections.

In addition, the project team reviewed claims that the area was previously a site of environmental concern. That area underwent significant remediation efforts that concluded in 2021, and a final report submitted to the EPA in January 2022 supported by IDEM, the City of Indianapolis, Marion County Public Health Department, Citizens Energy Group, and the Indianapolis Environmental Equity Council recommended removal of the site from the state’s list of environmental concerns.

What is the purpose of this campus expansion project?

The Crispus Attucks High School campus improvement initiative is driven by a bold vision to empower students through academic excellence, advanced technology and resources, and a modernized state-of-the-art facility to enhance the learning and student experience. Rooted in the school’s historic legacy, this project prioritizes education while creating opportunities for students to thrive. By fostering strong connections with the surrounding community, the expansion reinforces the school’s role as a beacon of achievement.

Who is involved in the planning process?

The conceptual design team, led by METICULOUS, worked with the IPS Foundation and a broad cross-section of stakeholders including students, parents, faculty, alumni, residential neighbors and community partners to solicit feedback and ideas on needed resources. A Community Advisory Group, made up of representatives from each of these groups, met monthly from June 2024 – May 2025 to help shape the direction of this plan.

What stage of planning are campus improvements currently in?

The project is now progressing through detailed design, approvals, and early construction planning. Current work includes:

Finalizing site and building designs
Coordinating construction phasing to minimize disruption during the school year
Advancing city approvals and permitting
Preparing for site mobilization and early utility work

Design concepts and layouts shared during recent community meetings reflect this next level of detail and refinement

What new facilities or programs are being considered as part of the expansion?

Created from stakeholder feedback, all designs — center around three key areas of focus:

Sports and Recreation
Arts, Culture and Media
Health, Wellness and Technology

These priorities have been incorporated into a preliminary design concept, which includes a second IHSAA regulation-sized gymnasium, wellness facilities and the addition and renovation of parking areas. Input from students, staff, families, alumni, and the greater Attucks community has been thoughtfully considered and woven into this design.

Will there be any impact on nearby homes or businesses?

IPS is committed to protecting the historic legacy of Crispus Attucks High School and minimizing disruption to the surrounding neighborhoods. Potential solutions are being explored to address existing traffic and parking challenges along nearby residential streets, including added parking spaces and redesign of current student drop-off/pick-up areas. However, all proposed construction and renovations will remain within the IPS property boundaries, as shown in the project site map above.

How do the proposed home bleachers compare to the previous bleachers?

We have included updated renderings showing the 12th Street elevation view of the proposed bleachers, which will run east/west along 12th Street, compared to the approximate visual height of the previous bleachers, which ran north/south along Brooks Street.

While the new structure includes a press box, the seating area is narrower and includes fewer rows than the previous bleachers. In addition, the new bleachers will sit within a lowered stadium bowl decreasing the elevation. As illustrated, these changes reduce the overall visual presence of the bleachers from 12th Street, and the structure is expected to appear lower than the original bleachers from this vantage point.

Will House Bill 1423 and the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) affect the Attucks Expansion project or the Crispus Attucks High School building?

Because funding for the Attucks Expansion Project includes both bond dollars and philanthropic contributions committed to and/or received by the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) before the approval of HB 1423 and the creation of IPEC, IPS (not the IPEC Board) will maintain control of this project. This is anticipated to be true from start to completion of this project. Additionally, Crispus Attucks High School will continue to be owned and operated by Indianapolis Public Schools.