New High School Campus in West End Opelousas Brings State-of-the-Art Training for High-Demand Careers

With support from Building Hope, JS Clark Leadership Academy opens a new 54,000-square-foot campus that includes an allied health academy and media studio, giving students hands-on career experiences earlier in their education

JS Clark Leadership Academy (JSCLA) students, faculty, staff, and Board members were joined yesterday by State Senator Gerald Boudreaux and Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of JSCLA's new 54,000-square-foot campus at 1040 South Bullard Street in Opelousas' West End. The event marked the completion of the new campus, following a topping-off ceremony last October celebrating the placement of the building's final beam.

The school's academic model pairs a rigorous, hands-on curriculum with meaningful career exploration and advanced, college-aligned coursework that enables students to earn both a high school diploma and up to 60 college credits through a partnership with South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc). Those credits can put students well on their way toward an associate degree, giving them a powerful head start on college and a high-wage, high-demand career.

The new campus also expands opportunities for students to explore two in-demand career pathways — health care and media — through dedicated learning spaces and real-world experiences.

In the Brittney Boudreaux Allied Health Academy, students prepare for Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification (with additional pathways planned), in partnership with area health providers — positioning them directly for high-demand careers with medical institutions in the region. A new Media Academy gives students a working studio and recording space to produce news broadcasts, sports commentary, and social media content, building real-world skills in journalism and digital media.

The campus also includes science labs, a technology repair station, a 550-seat gymnasium with locker rooms and a weight room, a football practice field, and a commercial kitchen staffed by an on-site chef.

The new facility will house grades 7–12 beginning this fall, while JSCLA's original campus will expand to serve grades K–6. The new campus will allow JSCLA to grow total enrollment from 490 to 720 students, drawing from a waitlist of 350 families. Several hundred students, faculty, staff, board members, and community members attended the celebration, which included remarks, a ribbon-cutting, live music, and food for attendees. Building Hope — a national nonprofit that finances school facilities and supports school communities — led the development of the new campus, with construction support from Rudick Construction and funding provided by Civic Builders. Built around the motto "For Us, By Us, With Us," the new campus was designed with input from JSCLA sta...