School and county leaders officially broke ground June 18 on the first new high school in more than 20 years in Chesterfield County. Temporarily known as the west area high school, the new school will be the 12th high school within Chesterfield County Public Schools. The School Board will work with the community to choose a permanent name before the school opens in August 2027.
Located on Duval Road in the Matoaca District, the west area high school is situated near the new Deep Creek Middle School, which will open in August 2025, and the under-construction west area elementary school, scheduled to open in August 2026.
At the event for the west area high school, school and county leaders delivered brief remarks before they put on hard hats, grabbed shovels and symbolically broke ground.
Steven Paranto, Matoaca District representative on the School Board, said, “We stand on the threshold of a new chapter as we break ground to erect a new high school — a place that will not only serve as the center of learning but also develop and equip the generations to come. This high school already reflects our community’s unwavering support to invest in the future of our young people. It will be a space where dreams are nurtured, talents are discovered, and futures are built.”
Superintendent John Murray thanked the School Board and Board of Supervisors for their collaborative leadership, saying, “It’s clear that our elected leaders agree that Chesterfield County must provide top-quality environments for teaching and learning to affirm to families that they are making their homes in the right place. … This new high school represents our belief that every student deserves a safe, modern and inspiring place to learn. It’s a place where future scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and leaders will take their first steps toward fulfilling their dreams.”
The west area high school is part of a community facilities bond plan approved by Chesterfield County voters in 2022. General obligation bonds will cover the $196 million cost. Architecture firm Stantec designed the school, and Gulf Seaboard is the construction contractor.
The two-story school covers more than 340,000 square feet and accommodates 2,400 students. Additional details about the west area high school were presented June 3 during a School Board work session.
Chesterfield County Public Schools is central Virginia’s largest school system, enrolling more than 64,000 students who attend 68 schools. Click here for more information about Chesterfield County Public Schools.
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