Updates: The new K-8 Pope School

After purchasing 40 acres at 1081 Ashport Road in 2019, the Madison County Commission unanimously approved a funding request by the Jackson-Madison County School Board in 2022 for the construction of a new Prek-8 Pope School. The new construction will replace the now 77-year-old Pope Elementary. Henson Construction Services, Inc. has been hired to oversee design & construction efforts with a tentative completion date slated for June 2025. Follow project updates below.

A topping-off ceremony was held at the new Pope School campus this week as Henson Construction installed the final beams on the building. Elected leaders from the city, county, and state levels joined our school board members to celebrate and reflect on this significant step forward. Former Pope School principals and current members of the Pope staff joined in on the celebration as Thompson and Smith Insurance agency sponsored a fish fry, and members of the Henson team provided tours throughout the expansive campus. Video from the event is available on our YouTube channel! Opening for the new facility is slated for August 2025. This is a moment of pride for our district and we thank all of our community leaders and supporters who made it possible!

New drone footage of the new Pope School construction. Video provided by Henson Construction.

Our target completion date remains Summer 2025. Check out these construction photos below from Monday, July 1. Henson Construction provides weekly updates to JMCSS Superintendent Dr. Marlon King and a monthly presentation for all community stakeholders during Board Work Sessions.

October/November notes: The district received word on Tuesday, October 31 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that the long awaited Saferoom grant had been approve. This grant will fund the Jackson-Madison County School System dual-purpose tornado safe room at The new Pope School currently under construction at 1081 Ashport Rd in Jackson, TN. The Saferoom will serve as a classroom and community safe space, accommodating up to 1260 students and staff during school hours, and function as an assembly area, housing up to 1765 individuals after school hours. This news allowed the Henson Construction team to move ahead with site work at the new campus.

On July 2023 (see below)

On November 2023 (see below)

August notes: Amendment to design and construction agreement with Henson Construction Services, Inc. to oversee Phase 1 of Off-Site Improvements (Widen Ashport Road to provide a Turn-Lane intro the New Pope Site). Click button for proposal.

July notes: The project remains on Schedule for June 2025 owner occupancy.

Construction Document Phase is complete. Henson Construction provides monthly updates to the Jackson-Madison County School Board.

The Scope of Work includes necessary work to get the site prepared for Building Construction to begin after the Building Package is Bid in July 2023. Click button below for early Site Package Bid Tabulation.

Located in northwest Madison County, the Pope School community will undergo a transformation when its new school is constructed. With the unanimous support of Jackson-Madison County School Board members and the County Commission, the plan for the new PreK-8 Pope School is moving forward. Click button below for details.

Ground was broken Monday morning in northwest Madison County as County Mayor Jimmy Harris, Jackson Mayor Scott Conger, and Jackson-Madison County school officials dug their shovels into the ground to make way for the new Pope School. Click button below for details.

A day many parents and school leaders in Jackson and Madison County have been waiting for has arrived. Parents and students in the crowd cheered as the Madison County Commission granted funds for a new Pre-K through 8th grade Pope School. Click button below for more details.

Members of the Madison County Commission had been waiting for months since Jackson-Madison County Schools Superintendent Marlon King was given the green light from the school board to present a plan and funding request for a new Pope School in October. Click button below for more details.

The facts about Pope Elementary haven’t changed.

Pope Elementary has been overcrowded since the mid-to-late 1990s. Built more than 70 years ago, Pope Elementary is the only public school north of Interstate 40 and west of the 45-bypass in perhaps the fastest-growing area of Madison County. Click button below for more details.

Some parents are concerned their Jackson-Madison County School District won’t be getting a new school. Members of the Pope Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization say they’re concerned, after several school board members voted to table a vote to buy land to build a new Pope K-8 school. Click button below for more details.