Modesto City Schools celebrates big improvements at two high schools

The completion of Davis High’s $4.35 million Health Services Academy building and the progress on four other projects at the campus were celebrated by Modesto City Schools on Friday.

The Health Services Academy expands the school’s healthcare offerings in its Career Technical Education department. The four ongoing projects are new baseball and softball fields, a new aquatic complex, and a multi-purpose stadium with a synthetic field and all-weather track.

Davis is one of two campus renovations being done within the district. Downey High School is the other receiving improvements.

The projects at Downey include modernized science labs, enhanced security fencing, a new courtyard and landscaping and a 10,300-square-foot athletic facility with a weight room, restrooms, a concession stand and more. A public ceremony about the projects was held at Downey High on Tuesday.

The two campus renovations are funded by Measure L, a bond measure that passed in 2022 to issue Modesto City Schools $198 million in bonds toward repairs and upgrades at school facilities. In the 2022 midterm election, 56% of voters voted in support of the bond measure.

“This is a pivotal moment for two proud Modesto high schools that have both served this community for decades,” Modesto City Schools Superintendent Sara Noguchi said in a press release. “If you want to look back someday and remember what Davis and Downey used to look like, now is the time to take a picture, because it’s all about to change.”

The status of projects at Davis High School

The synthetic field and all-weather track, which started construction in March, is expected to be completed in July. The field will have a pivot turf, offering the same feel and performance as if a sport were played on natural grass.

Timmy Garcia, athletic director for Davis High and Modesto City Schools, said this turf is a new iteration of the pivot turf that’s already implemented at Beyer and Enochs high schools. He referred to the turf as “Pivot 2.0” and mentioned that the installation is the first of its kind in the country.

The construction of the baseball and softball fields is expected to begin in the summer and be done by February 2026. There will be four fields, two for each sport. In the middle of those fields, there will be a building for restrooms, concession stands and a storage room.

Garcia said both the junior varsity and varsity baseball teams have played on campus while softball’s JV and varsity teams play their home matches at adjacent Davis Community Park.

The Aquatics Complex will include a Myrtha pool, the same type used in the U.S. Olympic Team swimming trials in Indianapolis last summer. The complex will also have a single-story building that will house a pool equipment room and restrooms. Construction for the complex will begin later in the fall and is expected to be completed by fall 2026.

The multipurpose stadium will include bleachers and an auxiliary building that will have a concession stand, a ticket booth and restrooms. The building will serve as the entrance to the stadium. The stadium will begin construction later in the winter, with an estimated completion by fall 2027.

During his speech, Garcia admitted that he was emotional and tried to hold back tears. As a Davis High alumni, he recalled when sports including football and softball were played off campus.

“This is a milestone that we’ve been waiting for. This is a game-changer, a transformative time in our history of our school, and it’s going to benefit generations to come for many, many years,” Garcia said.

The Health Services building will bring a sports medicine course for students in the health academy. Davis High Principal Michael Shroyer said talks about the course began three years ago when students showed interest in that realm of medicine.

The course will be the third capstone course to offered for students in the health academy. The other two are the Certified Nursing Assistant Program and the Health and Hospital Occupations Program.

Shroyer said that Eric Sonnenberg will teach the sports medicine course.

“I think it’s very admirable and appreciated for being in the education system,” Shroyer said about Measure L. “These dollars being spent on these projects really contribute to the overall school environment and school community.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2025 at 12:59 PM.