IPS Demolishing Joyce Kilmer School 69

Source: Image Courtesy of Indianapolis Public Schools / IPS

INDIANAPOLIS — More than two years after it closed, IPS Joyce Kilmer School 69 will be demolished. Indianapolis Public Schools say a new elementary school will be constructed on the site.

Joyce Kilmer School 69 closed in 2022, after a charter school that had been using the building left. Since that time, there have been many discussions about the future of the space.

Now, IPS has determined that it will be demolished in order to make room for a “modern high-ability elementary school,” as part of its Rebuilding Stronger initiative. This process will begin Monday at 10 a.m.

The new school is expected to accommodate 650 students, with a price tag of about $35 million – paid for by the Rebuilding Stronger Capital Referendum.

It will feature a gym, media center, “updated safety systems,” and more. Construction should begin this Spring, with the finished facility opening for the 2027–28 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson says, “The Joyce Kilmer project reflects our commitment to ensuring every child has access to a top-tier learning environment.”