Kirkwood High School on West Essex Ave. was built in 1955 on a 47-acre, seven building, college-style campus. Building improvements were made with a 1993 tax/bond issue that included the Thomas N. Keating Performance Center, a fine arts complex that features an 821-seat theater, band, art and vocal music classrooms. The privately funded Walker Commons enclosed the theater lobby area connecting the Center to the main campus.

Thanks to community support of Proposition I in April 2005, a new science building opened in August 2007. The science facility was designed to reflect current research and best practices in science education. The two-story structure measures 51,000 square feet and features 15 combined science classrooms/laboratories, five each for chemistry, biology and physics. Each classroom/laboratory averages about 1,500 square feet and is designed to facilitate the movement of students from discussion to hands-on activities. The district is also pleased to have the support of the Kirkwood School District Foundation, which volunteered to raise $1.6 million dollars in private funds to ensure students had immediate access to the science equipment and technology needed to mirror the recommendations in the National Science Foundation report to Congress.

Also part of Prop I, construction of a new regulation-size gymnasium and renovation of the existing physical education facility began this summer. The new facility is scheduled for completion in 2008. Prop I also funded a variety of infrastructure improvements at KHS including installation of a new fire alarm and sprinkler system as well as a decentralized heating and cooling system.