{
  "id": 14541677,
  "title": "Construction is underway for Newark’s new $173 million University High School",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/construction-is-underway-for-newarks-new-173-million-university-high",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-14T21:02:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Chalkbeat",
    "slug": "chalkbeat",
    "url": "https://www.chalkbeat.org/newark/2026/10/14/new-university-high-school-project-moves-forward/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Construction is underway for Newark's new $173 million University High School, bringing a long-awaited facility to the city's students. Superintendent Roger León, who served at the school in 2006 when the new building was first promised, called the current progress \"a long time coming.\" The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) and the Newark district broke ground on the project in August, with site preparations set to continue through early 2027. The demolition of the adjacent Hawthorne Avenue Elementary, one of the oldest active public schools in New Jersey, is also part of the project. The new University High School, set to open in 2029, will accommodate up to 1,080 students in an 198,000-square-foot facility. The total estimated cost of the project is $173 million. Once complete, students from the nearby Hawthorne Avenue Elementary will transition to the new high school, with renovations to the existing building following. The SDA, which funds school construction and renovations in Newark and 30 other high-poverty districts, is spearheading this initiative as part of a broader effort to replace 13 educational buildings across the city. State Senator Theresa Ruiz praised the new University High School, but emphasized that significant work remains to ensure all of Newark's students have adequate facilities.",
  "summary": "Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. For more than two decades, students at Newark’s University High School have been promised a new building. On Wednesday, officials said they’re closer to delivering. “I was principal of this high…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}