Construction on a new high school is underway.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future site of Prince William County’s 13th high school on Thursday morning.
The school is expected to hold more than 2,500 students when it opens near Gainesville Middle School in fall 2021.
Officials have begun the boundary planning process.
Through its opening, they hope to reduce overcrowding seen at the high school level, according to School Board Chairman Babur Lateef.
“It will also allow us to add programs to not only this high school but to other high schools, increasing capacity and the ability to improve our curriculum for all our high schools countywide,” Lateef told What’s Up Prince William.
Superintendent Steve Walts explained that the school will be larger than others.
“What typically happens is we open a new high school, it’s instantly full, and in a year or two it’s overcrowded,” Walts said. “So, we actually have 500 additional seats in this high school.”
Constructing the new institution demonstrates a promise, according to Virginia Delegate Lee Carter.
“It’s saying that we are putting a direct investment into the minds of our future leaders,” Carter said.
