Emerald High School Welcomes Its Inaugural Class

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin students go back to school Thursday, and for the first time, that includes a new category of student: the Emerald High School Aerouants.

350 students in Emerald High School’s first freshman class will move into a temporary location on the Dublin High School campus while they wait for Phase I of the new campus to complete, which is expected by January.

“This year marks a significant milestone in our community as we welcome the first Emerald High students - members of the Class of 2027,” DUSD Superintendent Chris Funk told families in an Aug. 4 letter. “While they will start the year on the Dublin High campus, their school is nearing completion and hopefully will be ready to welcome them for the second half of the school year. The long-awaited and highly anticipated opening of our second comprehensive high school - the first in Alameda County in over 50 years - is finally within reach.”

Each year, the school will add a new class, until it is completely full by the 2026-27 school year. The campus, located at 3600 Central Parkway, expects to welcome 2,500 students when complete. The new high school will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 will accommodate 1,300 students and feature an administration building, student union, kitchen, visual and performing arts center, library, gym, locker rooms, academy tower, tennis courts, a sports field and track. Phase 1 is expected to be complete by December 31.

The district hopes to finish Phase 2, which will allow an additional 1,200 students, by the spring of 2025.

Even while they are on the DHS campus, Emerald High School students will have their own classrooms, teachers, counselors, school administration, and sports teams, according to district spokesperson Chip Dehnert. Still, EHS students will share some spaces that require more than a traditional classroom, like physical education and music.

The Aerouants currently have their own football and basketball teams, but it may take time before it has every team currently offered in Dublin High School.

“Because this is a small freshman class, it may be a challenge to field full teams for all sports in the first year,” Dehnert said in an email. “Over time, as the school site grows to four full class sizes, we anticipate the sports available at EHS will mirror those at all [East Bay Athletic League] schools.”

EHS and DHS musicians will march together in field shows as part of the DHS Irish Guard. They will also be able to perform in DHS school plays, and be part of the drama and improv clubs. As in all Dublin schools, students can start their own clubs.

Course offerings will be similar to those offered at DHS, Dehnert said.

“Like Dublin High and Valley High, Emerald will be a place where students explore their passions, embrace their individuality, absorb knowledge, and make lifelong memories with friends and mentors who will guide them along their academic journey,” Funk said.

Visit ehs.dublinusd.org for more information.