Henry County Schools is presently accepting construction bids for the STEM high school. Here is a first look at the future building.
The new building will open its doors to students in August 2027. It will be the district’s 11th high school.
First Look at STEM High School
The new STEM school will be constructed in downtown Stockbridge. It will be at the site of the former Patrick Henry High School. This is off South Lee Street.
The new school will be a three-story building. It measures about 172,000 square feet. This is roughly half of the size compared to the district’s other high schools. It will support a smaller enrollment than the traditional high schools.
Construction will also build a new gymnasium for Stockbridge Elementary School.
The school district shared the images below in July. They are a first look at the future STEM high school.
The high school’s media center and courtyard will be focal gathering points.
About the Curriculum
The STEM high school plans to offer advanced curriculum for students through three pathways. They are the following:
- Aerospace, with a concentration in electrical engineering,
- Biotechnology & medical science, and
- Sustainability and green energy.
The district plans to offer a “demanding accelerated curriculum, featuring a rigorous sequence of AP courses and integration of university-level research content,” at the STEM high school. They continue work to develop the final course plan that each pathway will follow. The school will also offer the full accompaniment of fine arts, such as band and orchestra, for students. There are no plans for the school to compete in athletics.
When complete, the high school will be able to support an enrollment of 900–1,000 students. Students from throughout Henry County will be eligible to attend the STEM school. In addition, the district will offer transportation for its students. Henry County Schools plans to utilize a lottery when determining which students are selected to attend the school. More details about the lottery will be available closer to the school’s opening.
Students at the STEM school will attend the new school for all classes. It will be their high school of record. This is different than the current Academy for Advanced Studies. Academy students attend their home high school, based on their residence, for half of the day.
How the District Reached Today and Next Steps
Planning for a STEM high school began about five years ago. In 2019–2020, the district developed its five-year strategic plan. Community members at the time voiced support for a stand-alone STEM high school, similar to others in metro Atlanta. The district placed the school’s construction on its education SPLOST VI project list. Voters approved the E-SPLOST program in March 2021.
Following the E-SPLOST passage, the district continued planning work. They visited several other STEM schools to gather ideas. The district also formed its STEM advisory committee. The committee has representatives from area universities, local engineering & manufacturing employers, district principals, teachers and parents. The advisory group has helped determine the focus areas for the STEM school curriculum.
Right now, the district is accepting construction bids to build the new school. The construction bids close on Thursday, July 25. The school board will consider approving a bid in August. Work could then begin this fall. Construction is estimated to last about 2.5 years.
Finally, the STEM school will open for students in August 2027.
Featured image shows an exterior rendering for the STEM high school. Henry County Schools photo.
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