John Rex Charter Schools today laid out the vision for John Rex Polytechnic High School, a comprehensive public charter high school scheduled to open in downtown Oklahoma City in Fall 2027. The school will welcome its inaugural ninth-grade class for the 2027–28 school year and add one grade each year thereafter, ultimately completing a Pre-K–12 educational pipeline for John Rex students all in downtown Oklahoma City.
Located at 615 N. Hudson Ave., the high school will occupy an approximately 30,000-square-foot building that will be renovated and reimagined to support collaborative, interdisciplinary and applied learning.
“From the beginning, John Rex was built around the idea that an exceptional education can be deeply connected to the community around it,” said Patrick Duffy, superintendent of John Rex Charter Schools. “Opening a high school allows us to take that vision even further. We’re not simply adding four more grade levels. We’re building a high school model uniquely designed around downtown Oklahoma City and the students who will graduate into our city’s future.”
A High School Designed for Oklahoma City
John Rex Polytechnic High School will combine rigorous academics with applied, real-world learning to prepare students for college, careers and life.
Building on more than a decade of experience using downtown Oklahoma City as an extension of the classroom, the high school will deepen connections with businesses, healthcare systems, universities, nonprofits and civic institutions, giving students opportunities to apply what they learn to real-world challenges.
Under the polytechnic model, students will receive a comprehensive, college- and career-ready education while participating in interdisciplinary projects, applied learning and experiences connected to their interests and future goals.
“Oklahoma City gives us an extraordinary environment in which to build this kind of school,” said Dr. Rhonda Hart, founding principal of John Rex Polytechnic High School. “We want to connect students with the people and organizations solving real problems every day so they understand not only what they’re learning, but how they can use it.”
Built for Students. Connected to Oklahoma City.
The school’s academic model is being developed with both students’ futures and the region’s evolving workforce in mind. Oklahoma Employment Security Commission projections show STEM occupations statewide growing faster than employment overall through 2032, with projected growth in computer science, life sciences and engineering - fields reflected in the high school’s planned academic concentrations.
“John Rex Elementary was a MAPS for Kids project intended to facilitate residential growth in downtown as well as provide a new center of excellence for public education in our city,” said Mayor David Holt. “Both aspirations have been realized since the passage of MAPS for Kids a quarter-century ago, but to truly leverage the potential of the original vision, it is ideal to have a John Rex pipeline that goes all the way through high school graduation. I commend everyone who has pursued this outcome and is making it possible. This is a great day for OKC’s public education system.”
Students will choose from six areas of concentration:
Engineering – Applying design, technology and problem-solving to real-world challenges.
Cybersecurity and Computer Science – Exploring computer science, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
Biomedical Sciences – Connecting rigorous science with health, medicine and Oklahoma City’s healthcare and research community.
Entrepreneurship – Developing the creativity, leadership and practical skills to move ideas into action.
Interdisciplinary Studies – Connecting ideas across academic disciplines through inquiry, collaboration and applied problem-solving.
Advanced Academics – A college-focused concentration offering advanced and concurrent coursework, with opportunities to work toward an associate degree while completing high school.
Regardless of concentration, all students will receive a comprehensive education in core academic subjects while developing critical-thinking, communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills that are increasingly important across industries.
“We have an opportunity to help students see themselves as part of Oklahoma City’s future before they ever leave high school,” said Jennifer Monies, John Rex Charter Schools board chair. “Whether they ultimately become engineers, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, technology leaders or pursue a path we haven’t imagined yet, we want them to graduate knowing how their talents can contribute to this community and beyond. We are building a high school to meet the future needs of our city.”
A Community Investing in What Comes Next
The vision is already drawing support from organizations committed to education and the future of Oklahoma City. Inasmuch Foundation has provided early and significant support for the new high school, including John Rex’s selection as one of 12 organizations and initiatives included in the inaugural grantmaking of Bedrock, an invitation-only fund of Inasmuch Foundation created to support transformational initiatives across Oklahoma. The Bedrock investment will support the capital campaign and development of the new downtown high school.
“We believe deeply in what John Rex is building in downtown Oklahoma City,” said Robert J. Ross, chairman and CEO of Inasmuch Foundation. “The high school is the next chapter of that vision - connecting rigorous education with the extraordinary people, institutions and opportunities that surround these students every day. We are proud to invest in a project that will expand opportunity for students while strengthening the future of our city.”
The school’s growth has also been strengthened by the early engagement of Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, whose leadership and commitment to the broader community have helped shape the John Rex story from its earliest days.
John Rex will continue engaging students, families, educators, higher education institutions, employers and community leaders over the coming year as elements of the high school experience and its community partnerships continue to take shape.
Additional information about the school is available at johnrexschool.org/page/polytechnic.