HUNTSVILLE — Celebrating a major milestone in in its 10-year capital plan, Huntsville City Schools broke ground today on a shared campus for two new elementary schools in Northwest Huntsville.

Montview Elementary School and the re-imagined STEM Magnet Elementary School, currently known as the Academy for Science and Foreign Language, will share the site of Montview Elementary, transforming the property into a modern educational environment serving both neighborhood and magnet students, officials said.

“This groundbreaking represents our promise in Huntsville City Schools to deliver the very best for students, and progress is already happening inside our classrooms each and every day,” said Schools Superintendent Dr. Clarence Sutton. “On the recent state report cards, Montview Elementary rose to a ‘B’, and ASFL Elementary rose to an ‘A’.

“Our capital plan and strategic plan are working hand-in-hand to support students and empower teachers.”

According to a news release, the approximately $56 million project will span 18 acres and will feature a single, shared building totaling 110,000 square feet with each school occupying roughly 55,000 square feet.

Though the two schools will share a facility, each school will have dedicated spaces designed to support instructional goals. Officials said both schools will serve students in grades pre-K through 5, and the new campus is set to open in August 2027.

Montview Elementary will continue to serve as a neighborhood school within the Lee High feeder pattern, offering specialized classrooms, flex labs, a full-sized gym, safe spaces, and multiple age-appropriate playgrounds, officials said.

The new STEM Magnet Elementary School will serve students from across the city with STEM labs, interactive teaching walls, flexible learning rooms, and multi-use instructional areas aligned with its STEM-focused mission.

The project’s partners are architects McMillan Pazdan Smith, TCU Consulting Services, and builders First Team.

School system officials said they also appreciate the continued support of Mayor Tommy Battle, the Huntsville City Council, the Madison County Commission, and state lawmakers.

“The new shared campus honors Montview’s long-standing presence in the community while creating an innovative, future-focused environment for both schools,” the news release said. “The project represents another significant step in Huntsville City Schools’ ongoing efforts to modernize facilities and expand learning opportunities across the district.”