Ludlow Schools: Building Tomorrow

Rendering of planned renovations to the Ludlow School campus. Courtesy of REH&A Architect, Crestview Hills, KY. Construction began in 2024 and is planned to come to completion in 2026

In the fall of 2023, the Ludlow Independent School District began the most ambitious building project in its 155-year history. With a combination of $28 million in state funding, along with local bonding money, the district began a $39 million renovation and building project that would touch every inch of the school campus. This project would build a new high school cafeteria on Oak Street; and a new addition on Adela Street that would house both schools’ offices, new district-wide library, band room, and multi-purpose room. In addition to the two new buildings, every classroom was to be completely renovated, including all new plumbing, electricity, walls, windows, and technology. Also included in this project was a complete renovation of the auditorium, the kitchen and elementary cafeteria were also to be reconfigured to serve both elementary and high school students, new roofs would be installed on most of the buildings, and the elementary gym was to be renovated.

With this project, the campus would be updating all areas of the school buildings built in 1915, 1931, 1957, and 1999, to become state-of-the-art classrooms with all the modern convenience and technology to provide a world-class education for our students. In the summer of 2024, the two new construction buildings began rising from the ground, and the top floors of the elementary and middle school buildings were renovated.

During this past school year, the top two floors of the high school and the auditorium were completed. This past summer, the 2nd floor of the middle school, first floor of the elementary school, and the elementary gym were completed. Over the past 18 months, 65 classrooms have been renovated and much of the overall work has been completed, but more is still to come.

The start of this current school year marked a milestone in this two-year project, as every student started the school year in renovated classrooms. In the coming months, the current phases of renovation/ construction will be finishing up with the renovation of the basement science classrooms, new elementary art room/ performance area (old band room), and renovation of the current high school offices. The goal is to complete the major renovations to the campus by the beginning of 2026.

Although the current renovations are starting to finish up, there are several new projects that the board of education has identified to upgrade in the coming year or two. The need to replace the original high school gym floor and renovation of the high school gym locker rooms are tentatively scheduled for 2026. The high school gym was constructed in 1970 and still has the original gym floor, locker rooms, and boiler system. These current projects have transformed the Ludlow Schools campus and will make Ludlow Schools the most modern facility in our region to better serve our students and our community. And future projects aim to enhance our offerings and opportunities for our students. At Ludlow Schools, we are truly “Building Tomorrow”.