Photo by Renderings courtesy Frisco ISD

Photo by Source: Frisco ISD

CTE Center expansion is also OK'd by FISD board of trustees

Before Independence High School has hosted its first semester and while Reedy High School is still under construction, Frisco ISD is moving forward this summer with plans to have High School No. 9 open by August 2016.

The latest high school will be constructed on the northwest corner of Lebanon Road and Ohio Drive, just south of the FISD Administration Building. Students coming up through the middle school ranks as well as the build-out in eastern communities including Lawler Park and Richwoods were considered in the decision to build the school, said Richard Wilkinson, deputy superintendent of business services.

The ninth high school will relieve Independence, Centennial and Liberty high schools. Without relief from a new school, Independence and Liberty are projected to be over the 2,100-student capacities by 2016. Centennial is projected to have 2,051 students by 2016.

High school No. 9 is projected to open with about 500 freshman students, Wilkinson said.

"I guess one of the criticisms could be opening the school with only 500 kids, but [FISD officials] think it's best for the other three high schools—think it's best for the kids," Wilkinson said.

He said the move would hopefully eliminate the need to move high school students twice through the rezoning process.

Independence High School, constructed at 10555 Independence Parkway, will be open in August.

Reedy High School, under construction on the southwest corner of Stonebrook Parkway and 4th Army Memorial Road, is scheduled to open August 2015.

CTE Center expansion

Plans are also in the works to expand the Career and Technical Education Center by 44,000 square feet.

Unlike the existing building, the expansion will have more flexible classroom and collaboration space rather than classrooms for dedicated uses, FISD officials said.

The new wing will have very little effect on the existing building during construction. The student capacity will be expanded from 3,500 students to 4,500 to 5,000 students.

The new expansion is planned to open in August 2015.