Learn Hunter Perkins Unveiled $10.5 Million Expansion
The Auburn Gresham school expansion adds new classrooms and facilities to serve its 550 students.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Learn Hunter Perkins has completed a $10.5 million building expansion in Chicago's Auburn Gresham neighborhood. The project provides dedicated space for art, music, and science while alleviating student overcrowding.
Why it matters
The new facilities address a long-standing shortage of specialized learning spaces for the school's 550 students. By integrating these classrooms, the institution aims to improve educational equity and school capacity.
The $10.5 million expansion includes new art rooms, music rooms, and science labs. The state of Illinois contributed $4.1 million toward the project, which supports the school's population of 550 students.
The players
Willie Preston
He is an Illinois State Senator who secured the state appropriation for the school project.
Learn Hunter Perkins
This is a school network that serves 550 students in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
The details
The expansion replaces cramped conditions with modern infrastructure, specifically adding classrooms to mitigate student overcrowding. Additionally, the new gymnasium is designed to host activities for the surrounding Auburn Gresham community.
Timeline
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on September 29, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Culture Shift
The investment reflects the growing trend of state-supported urban infrastructure projects aimed at modernizing educational facilities. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to utilize school campuses as hubs for wider neighborhood engagement.
Residents of Auburn Gresham gain access to the new gymnasium for community use. Students and families will also see improved daily educational experiences due to the addition of dedicated science, art, and music labs.
The takeaway
Investment in specialized classrooms can significantly improve the school day for students who previously lacked dedicated facilities. Providing community access to school gymnasiums helps bridge the gap between educational institutions and the neighborhoods they serve.
Further reading
For more information on education funding in the area, visit Financial Aid.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
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