At the Aug. 4 groundbreaking, PISD Superintendent Holly Ferguson said the district is “experiencing remarkable growth” with over 28,000 students and more expected to enroll.
“Here we are at yet another monumental moment in our great district,” Ferguson said. “How very blessed and fortunate we are to build the most amazing facilities for our students to learn.”
The gist
The two-story high school, named Richland High School, will be situated south along Prairie Drive. It will be built in a neoclassical architectural style and feature a central library; space for career and technical education, or CTE, classes; and areas for different sports programs.
Richland High School’s mascot will be the Raiders, and school colors will be purple, gray and black.
PISD board President Bill Beavers spoke at the groundbreaking of the district’s growth with residents coming outside of Texas to live in Prosper. Beavers said a “good amount” of first-generation Texans will attend the high school.
“When people moved to Prosper ISD, a lot of them came here with a vision of what would happen in the future, and I believe High School No. 4 is going to be exactly that,” he said.
A closer look
The school’s main academic building will be 530,000 square feet, and the campus will have an additional 75,000-square-foot multipurpose building, Ferguson said.
Inside the academic building, she said there will be designated areas for fine arts, athletics and CTE programs. The CTE program will be “comprehensive” for different fields of study, she said, including the following.
- Business
- Computer science
- Forensic science
- Journalism
- Culinary arts
- Cosmetology
- Medical technology
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Animal science
- Horticulture
- Engineering
In addition to its academic facilities, she said the school will house performance spaces: a 1,000-seat auditorium and a 2,200-seat arena.
“These spaces will be essential for showcasing student talents, holding events and hosting community gatherings,” Ferguson said.
Richland will also have outdoor areas for various activities and sports:
- Football
- Band
- Track
- Baseball
- Softball
- Tennis
Richland High School is expected to open in two years, Beaver said.
PISD’s third high school, Walnut Grove High School, will open in August, a year earlier than expected, according to the district’s website. The district is also expected to have its fifth middle school, Daniel L. Jones Middle School, open by August 2024.
“The construction of this new high school demonstrates Prosper ISD’s commitment to providing outstanding educational opportunities for its students and fostering their growth in academic and various career areas,” Ferguson said. “We build the best because our students deserve the best, and our community expects the best.”
