Students from fire-damaged Palisades Charter High School are back in class Wednesday in temporary quarters at the old Sears Building in Santa Monica.
“Pali High,” as it’s known, was damaged in the deadly firestorm that engulfed the coastal community of Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, and it won’t be ready to welcome students again until 2026.
For now, students are returning to class in neighboring Santa Monica, not far from Santa Monica High School, where classes begin next week.
It will likely make for additional traffic and Principal Pam McGee says those commuting to what’s been dubbed “Pali South” should give themselves extra time.
After a period of remote learning, classes were moved to the Sears Building to conclude the last school year, so returning students are used to the routine.
“We’re really adapted to it now,” one of them told KTLA5.
McGee told KCRW that Pali High serves about 3,000 students from over 100 ZIP codes in the Los Angeles area.