Building for the future: Walla Walla Catholic Schools to consolidate campuses with new facility
By Dan Thesman on Friday, September 25th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WALLA WALLA — Walla Walla Catholic Schools is preparing to break ground on the new Assumption Grade School, consolidating its students onto a single campus.
The new building which will serve students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade is estimated at $8.8 million. It will be constructed on the DeSales campus, located at 919 E. Sumach St., fulfilling a long-held vision originating in 2018 to bring pre-K through 12th-grade students together. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Friday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. at the DeSales softball field.
The new building will be constructed on the site of the existing DeSales softball field. Planning is underway to establish a new permanent location for the softball field.
Site plan for the new Assumption Grade School
Jeff Moeller Construction has handled the planning and permitting work necessary to bring the project to this stage, and construction contracts are now being finalized. Eagon Excavating and Construction Services is expected to begin site-development work in early October. Walla Walla Catholic Schools is placing an emphasis on using local contractors and businesses throughout the project.
Construction is expected to take approximately 12 to 18 months from the start of work through completion. The schedule will depend in part on winter weather and how much construction can continue during the colder months.
The modern 18,000-square-foot facility is designed to replace aging infrastructure. Key features of the project include an 8,000-square-foot dual-use chapel and gymnasium, additional classroom space for growing enrollment, and updated science and technology integration.
Unifying the elementary and high school programs onto one campus offers several benefits, including improved resource allocation and reduced overall maintenance costs compared to operating two separate locations. School officials also expect the shared space to foster stronger community engagement and create mentorship opportunities between older and younger students.
Currently, grades pre-k to 5 are located on the campus of Assumption Catholic School, 2006 E. Alder St., and grades 6-12 are located at DeSales.
The existing Assumption Grade School building is located at Assumption Catholic Church and belongs to Assumption Catholic Parish. Its future use will ultimately be determined by the parish. Discussions have included removing the building and preparing the property for a future project, but no final decision has been made.
As the oldest Catholic school system in Washington, tracing its origins to 1864, the organization views the new construction as an investment in modernizing facilities while maintaining its long-standing educational legacy.
Photos courtesy Walla Walla Catholic Schools
