Hempfield Area (Pa.) district looks at relocating 9th graders while high school is being rebuilt

The Hempfield Area (Pa.) district wants to convert one of its middle schools to a temporary ninth-grade campus to make it easier for the district's high school to undergo a major overhaul.

While construction at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg, Pa., is underway, the district has proposed moving ninth grade students to Harrold Middle School beginning in fall 2023, reports The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 

The goal is to reduce the number of students at the high school during construction, which will involve razing the existing building and erecting a new one.

The consolidation plan would place all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students into Wendover and West Hempfield middle schools. Based on school capacity, Wendover and West Hempfield are able to house all middle school students and staff while having space for possible growth.

Wendover and West Hempfield middle school were remodeled more recently than Harrold. Wendover was renovated in 2013 and West Hempfield in 2002.

The high school overhaul is in the design phase. Construction could begin as early as June 2023 and could be completed by 2025.