Henry County Schools approved on Monday the construction of its first STEM High School. The building will cost $72.9 million.
Planning for the new school began in 2019–2020. The project is paid for by education SPLOST VI.
STEM High School Construction
The Henry County Board of Education approved hiring MEJA Construction to build the STEM High School. Board approval occurred at the August 12, 2024 meeting. The company provided a bid price of $72,887,000. This breaks down to a cost per square foot of about $373. MEJA was the lowest bid of four bids the district received.
MEJA Construction, located in Peachtree City, has extensive experience with Henry County Schools. Most recently, they built Birch Creek Elementary which opened earlier this month. The company also built McDonough High School, Hampton High School and the Fairview Performing Arts Center. Other past projects were Dutchtown High & Middle, Locust Grove High & Middle, and Union Grove High School. Finally, MEJA constructed a number of local elementary schools.
The new STEM school will be located in downtown Stockbridge. It is off South Lee Street. Construction will begin this fall. The contractor will first demolish the existing Patrick Henry High School. Afterwards, they will then start work to build the new school. In addition to a new high school, the project includes building a new gymnasium for the adjacent Stockbridge Elementary.
When looking at the project renderings, the media center, cafeteria and a large courtyard are at the center of the school. The two common areas are on either side of the courtyard. Finally, the classrooms are in the multi-story sections of the building.
The new school will be a three-story building. It measures about 172,000 square feet. This is roughly half of the size of the district’s other high schools. As such, it supports a smaller enrollment — 900–1,000 students — compared to the traditional high schools. The school will open for students in August 2027.
The STEM School 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.
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.
Check out our August article for more renderings showcasing the new school!
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Board Member Comments
Board members expressed their enthusiasm for the project before voting to approve its construction. Several board members were left practically speechless remarking how beautiful the new facility will be.
Board Vice-Chair Edwards remarked the new school is ”state of the art.” She is excited to complete the school so students can begin learning there. Board Member McDaniel thanked the residents of Henry County for their support of E-SPLOST and entrusting the school district to build such a venue. He described the new school as “game-changing for Henry County students.”
Finally, Board Member Nutt remarked the collaborative spaces in the school’s hallways will change how teachers carry-out their day-to-day instruction. It is unlike anything that exists now in Henry County Schools. Board members and district staff designed the school following several site visits to other STEM schools in metro Atlanta.
Featured image shows a rendering of the STEM High School. All photos credit to Henry County Schools.
