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Sage Hill Celebrates Opening Middle School & Bolen Family Gymnasium
Sage Hill School ushered in a new era with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Middle School and Bolen Family Gymnasium building on opening day of the 2026-27 school year.
Wielding a giant pair of scissors, Head of School Patricia Merz and Board of Trustees Chair Mike Bolen cut a ceremonial ribbon in front of a large crowd of students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees and other special guests. With the opening of grades 7 and 8, about 140 new students will be added to the campus and bring its total enrollment to approximately 730.
“Over the past 26 years, Sage Hill has made a lasting impact on education in Orange County and beyond,” Merz said. “Today, we continue that legacy as we become the only independent school in Orange County serving students in grades 7 through 12.”
The 38,658-square-foot building provides classrooms, offices and a café specifically for the middle school division. It also adds a second gymnasium that will include enough seating to accommodate the entire school, as well as multiple courts to run simultaneous games if needed.
In 2023, Sage Hill launched a $25 million capital campaign to support the building’s construction, as well as strengthen its student body by funding an increased commitment to tuition assistance. The ribbon cutting event caps over five years of planning, fundraising, design and construction.
“Today is a celebration of far more than a new building,” Bolen said. “It is a celebration of the many people whose vision, expertise and partnership have helped shape the future of Sage Hill School. On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to recognize and thank the outstanding partners who have helped bring this project to life.”
Sage Hill School
A college preparatory independent day school for grades 7-12.
20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Phone: 949.219.0100 | Fax: 949.219.1399
20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Phone: 949.219.0100 | Fax: 949.219.1399
Sage Hill School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other School administered programs.