Palisades Charter High School will begin the 2025-26 school year at its temporary Santa Monica location and remain there through at least Thanksgiving break, possibly through the end of the first semester, as restoration work continues on the fire-damaged Palisades campus.
The decision affects approximately 2,500 students who have been attending classes at the "Pali South" campus in downtown Santa Monica's former Sears building since April, following the devastating January 2025 Palisades Fire that destroyed much of the original campus.
"After thoughtful consideration and multiple visits to our Palisades campus, we've determined that the best place to kick off the 2025-2026 school year will be our Pali South campus in Santa Monica," Executive Director/Principal Dr. Pam Magee wrote in a letter to families. "This move allows us the time and space needed to continue restoration work on our main campus, while ensuring that our students and staff can start the year in a safe, fully functional learning environment."
The extended timeline represents a significant shift from earlier projections that suggested students might return to the original campus sooner. The school community had initially hoped to resume classes at the Palisades location once temporary portable classrooms were installed on the campus grounds.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Unified School District has approved a comprehensive $266.6 million reconstruction project that will completely rebuild the campus with permanent structures. The ambitious timeline calls for interim portable classrooms to be installed at the original site by fall 2025, followed by construction of permanent buildings beginning in early 2027.
"Our goal is to return to the Palisades with as little disruption as possible to teaching and learning," Magee stated. "In the meantime, restoration work is well underway-focusing on key shared spaces like the football field, gym, and aquatic center-so they may possibly be ready for community use even before we return."
The new permanent campus is expected to include 22 classrooms, specialized learning spaces for science, engineering, media production and computer technology, as well as administrative offices and support facilities. The project also calls for replacing the track and football field, baseball field, and field lighting systems.
According to LAUSD's timeline, the permanent facilities are scheduled for completion by the fourth quarter of 2028, with the baseball field reconstruction extending into 2029. The district's Board of Education approved the bond-funded project in June 2025 to expedite reconstruction efforts.
The January fire caused unprecedented damage to multiple schools in the area, including Marquez Charter Elementary School and Palisades Charter Elementary School, in addition to the high school. The high school's temporary relocation to Santa Monica has required extensive coordination between the two cities and school districts.
The 302 Colorado Avenue location previously housed Sears until the retailer's 2017 closure. School officials worked with insurance coverage and donor contributions to transform the vacant department store into a functional learning environment, adding walls, carpet, paint, air conditioning and signage.
Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete welcomed the displaced students during community meetings earlier this year. "We are really excited to have you guys a part of our community," Negrete said. "We understand it's under unfortunate circumstances, but we are ready to roll out the red carpet for you."
The extended stay at the Santa Monica location will continue to impact downtown traffic patterns, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup times. City officials have encouraged families to use public transportation, including the Metro E Line and Big Blue Bus, both of which offer free rides to students.
Physical education classes are held at Historic Belmar Park, while athletic programs utilize various facilities throughout Santa Monica. The school maintains all previous policies and academic programs at the temporary location.
"This community has shown incredible resilience, and I have no doubt that together we will make this year one of strength, growth, and unity," Magee concluded in her message to families.
The school district plans to hold additional community meetings throughout the summer to update families on reconstruction progress and gather feedback on the permanent campus design.
