Seattle Public Schools officially commenced the modernization and expansion of Aki Kurose Middle School with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 22, 2026.
Richard Best, the Executive Director of Capital Projects for Seattle Public Schools, stated that the upgraded building will be adaptable for future needs, even as pedagogical methods evolve beyond 2028.
For the Aki Kurose community, the move to Van Asselt represents a two-year sacrifice that the district promises will culminate in a state-of-the-art facility for the South Graham Street neighborhood.
The BEX V levy was originally approved by Seattle voters to address urgent repairs and the replacement of aging buildings across the city.
This modernization also addresses the digital divide by ensuring every square foot of the campus is equipped with high-speed wireless connectivity and power access, a necessity that the original building was never designed to accommodate.
Seattle Public Schools begins a two-year, $155.5 million modernization of Aki Kurose Middle School to increase capacity to 1,000 students by 2028.