Six-story facility for grades 6 to 12 will be built in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood

The Boston district is planning to build a 650-student school in the Chinatown neighborhood that will serve grades 6 thorugh 12.

The Boston Herald reports that the Massachusetts School Building Authority has approved a budget for a new Josiah Quincy Upper School.

The school has outgrown its existing building.

Construction will begin next year, and the building is slated to open in time for the 2024-25 school year.

"The new school building will provide both an excellent International Baccalaureate academic program and a social and cultural gathering place for Chinatown neighbors and organizations," says Head of School Richard Chang.

The six-story building will have learning spaces for music, art and science as well as a gymnasium, library, auditorium and cafeteria.

It also will have instructional space on the roof, which will have photovoltaics and a garden to promote learning about the environment.

The project has a budget of $193 million.