School and county officials gathered on June 18 to commence construction on a new high school in Chesterfield County, the first such project in over two decades. Currently referred to as the west area high school, it will become the 12th high school within Chesterfield County Public Schools when it opens in August 2027. The School Board plans to engage with the community to decide on a permanent name for the institution.
The new high school is located on Duval Road in the Matoaca District, adjacent to Deep Creek Middle School, which will open in August 2025, and near an elementary school currently under construction, set to open in August 2026.
During the groundbreaking ceremony for the west area high school, local leaders made brief remarks before participating in a symbolic groundbreaking by donning hard hats and using shovels.
Steven Paranto, Matoaca District representative on the School Board, stated: “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 expressed gratitude towards both the School Board and Board of Supervisors for their joint efforts: “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’s development is part of a bond plan approved by voters in Chesterfield County back in 2022. General obligation bonds will fund its $196 million cost. Stantec is responsible for designing this two-story building covering more than 340,000 square feet with Gulf Seaboard overseeing construction operations.
Once completed it will have capacity for up-to-2-400 students with additional details having been shared earlier this month during one-of-the-school-board’s work sessions held-on-June-3rd-including architectural renderings available online along-with photographs from-the-groundbreaking-event-as-well-as-video-footage-soon-to-be-released.
Chesterfield County Public Schools stands out as central Virginia’s largest educational system catering over sixty-four-thousand-students across-sixty-eight-schools-and-more-information-about-it-can-be-found-throughout-official-channels-online-providing-updates-related-to-new-developments-across-the-region-among-other-useful-resources-for-community-members-interested-in-learning-more-about-this-growing-district-serving-families-from-diverse-backgrounds-all-over-the-area-with-pride-and-dedication-towards-achieving-excellence-in-education-through-continuous-improvement-efforts-supported-by-local-leaders-working-together-hand-in-hand-for-betterment-of-future-generations-at-large
