A little more than two years after ground was broken at the site of the new Athens High School, school officials confirm the $57-million, 285,000-square-foot building will be ready to open Nov. 19.

Just before school started this year, Superintendent of Athens City Schools Dr. Trey Holladay recast the new high school’s initial opening date from Aug. 30 to November, blaming unusually rainy weather and problems with finishing the courtyard, an outdoor space that spans nearly 1 acre.

This year was marked by extensive change in the district, most notably the establishment of academies at the elementary level, the implementation of sixth-grade and ninth-grade academies and the moving of the middle school into the former high school.

Because these changes were already in motion when Holladay found out the new high school wouldn’t be ready in August, school officials decided to temporarily house high school students at the former middle school on Clinton Street. Although not ideal, students have made do despite limited parking and smaller classrooms at the old middle school.

“They are definitely ready to move into the new building,” said Chris Hamilton, director of communications for Athens City Schools.

Hamilton said the majority of the school is ready, but the auditorium and competition gymnasium remain incomplete. Those areas will be closed off to students until they are finished.

“This new building provides updated facilities with much improved learning spaces for our students,” Holladay said. “It’s thrilling to see this vision come together.”

Before the school officially opens, high school students and their parents or guardians will have the opportunity to tour the school from 3–5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18.

Students will receive their class schedules and a “golden ticket” for the tour from their homeroom teacher Nov. 8. According to Hamilton, tickets are required to get into the open house.

Teachers have been given Nov. 15 and 16 to move into and set up their classrooms. On these days, parents have the option of either sending their students to school or allowing them to stay home and complete their assignments using an online portal on their laptop computers.

Students who come to school those days will meet in the cafeteria and be provided lunch.

Other issues such as student parking and car line locations will be ironed out in the days leading up to the school’s grand opening.

The Alabama Department of Transportation gave the district permission to put in a a temporary traffic light at the entrance of the school on U.S. 31 until a permanent one can be erected, Hamilton said.

The community will be invited to an official ribbon cutting at the new high school when the entire building is complete. Hamilton predicted that date to be sometime in late January.