> At a Glance
> – New LAUSD campuses for Palisades Fire-damaged schools ready by fall 2028
> – $604 million total rebuild; $202 million earmarked for Marquez Elementary
> – Students now in temporary classrooms or off-site locations
> – Why it matters: 3,000+ students have been in limbo since January 2025; faster state approvals could shorten timeline
Nearly one year after the Palisades Fire destroyed or damaged key LAUSD campuses, district leaders on Tuesday locked in a fall 2028 reopening for brand-new facilities and vowed to finish sooner if Sacramento’s red-tape cuts hold.
The Rebuild Plan
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced the timeline at Marquez Charter Elementary, one of three schools leveled in the January 2025 blaze. Construction will start immediately after the board fast-tracked design, engineering, and cost approvals.
- Marquez Elementary: $202 million
- Palisades Elementary & Palisades Charter High: balance of the $604 million package
Carvalho said the district will “take full advantage” of state flexibilities promised by Governor Gavin Newsom to compress schedules.
Where Students Are Now
While crews prep sites, displaced students are scattered across temporary spaces:
| School | Current Location | Return Date to Main Site |
|---|---|---|
| Marquez Elementary | On-campus temporary classrooms | Fall 2028 (target) |
| Palisades Charter High | Pali South (ex-Sears, Santa Monica) | Jan. 27 at temporary structures |
| Palisades Elementary | Brentwood Science Magnet | Fall 2028 (target) |
High-schoolers will start the spring semester at Pali South next week so crews can finish environmental testing on the main campus.
Key Takeaways
- All three new campuses approved and funded; no additional votes needed
- State-level streamlining could shorten the 2028 target
- LAUSD has cleared environmental hurdles for temporary high-school structures opening Jan. 27
- District overseeing $604 million in simultaneous rebuilds-its largest single-fire school investment ever
If Sacramento’s expedited permitting holds, Carvalho says students could walk into permanent, state-of-the-art classrooms even sooner than promised.
