Huntsville City Schools plan would eliminate three long-standing schools

HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville City Schools has constructed a capital plan and, over the next nine days, will unveil the blueprint that lays out several significant objectives over the next 5-7 years.

The plan involves closing three schools – Chapman Elementary and Mountain Gap Elementary and Middle schools – and constructing new ones.

The plan also is to move all Huntsville City sixth-grade students out of elementary schools and into middle schools over time.

The presentation of the capital plan, which was presented at the March 19 school board meeting, can be viewed here.

The timeline to move all of the sixth-graders will vary by school and when construction projects are completed.

The school system will host information sessions about the feeder plans over the next several days. They will be at the high school campuses from 5:30-7 p.m. beginning Tuesday. The sessions will be recorded on video to those unable to attend.

• TUESDAY – Columbia Feeder Plan:
  – Williams Elementary cafeteria, lobby, restroom, hallway, media center and gym renovations by 2025/2026
  – Ridgecrest Elementary “major renovations” by 2028/2029
  – A new P-8 school in Limestone County serving students in west Huntsville by 2028/2029.
• WEDNESDAY – Grissom Feeder Plan:
  – Grissom High cafeteria addition, relocation of CTE program. Conversion of CTE rooms to more classroom space in 2026/2027.
  – Farley Elementary new gym, classroom renovations, new hallway flooring, restroom renovations and various modernizations by 2027/2028.
  – Weatherly Elementary classroom renovations by 2027/2028
  – McDonnell Elementary gym pod replacement, new roof, bathroom renovations, parking and carline revisions by 2027/2028.
  – Challenger Elementary will consolidate into a smaller portion of the existing building to allow for construction of new Challenger Middle School in 2027/2028. The new Challenger Middle School is expected to open in 2031.
  – Mountain Gap Middle School will close and students will move to the new Challenger Middle School once it’s open in 2031.
  – Mountain Gap Elementary will close and students will move to Weatherly and Challenger Elementary in 2032.
• THURSDAY – Jemison Feeder Plan:
  – New 6th grade wing on McNair Junior High to allow students from Dawson, Highlands, Lakewood, and Rolling Hills to transition to McNair Middle (grades 6-8) in 2026/2027.
  – Dawson Elementary will see extensive renovations in 2027/2028.
  – Rolling Hills will see cafeteria and bathroom renovations, a new gym pod and unspecified “aesthetic improvements” in 2027/2028.
  – New Lakewood Elementary to be built on the ASFL campus in 2030/2031.
• APRIL 9 – Huntsville Feeder Plan:
  – Artemis Virtual Academy students to locate to Blossomwood Elementary in 2024/2025.
  – Chapman Elementary will close and consolidate into Blossomwood in 2025/2026.
  – Goldsmith-Schiffman to add 8 classrooms, storm shelter and restroom in 2026/2027
  – Hampton Cove Middle to add 10 classrooms, storm shelter and teacher workspace in 2026/2027.
  – Monte Sano Elementary to undergo classroom and cafeteria renovations in 2027/2028.
  – New Huntsville Middle School to be built on the Huntsville Junior High campus in 2028/2029.
• APRIL 10 – Lee/New Century Feeder Plan:
  – Chapman Elementary will close and consolidate into Blossomwood in 2025/2026.
  – A new Chapman middle School will be built and share a campus with a new magnet school in 2027/2028.
  – A new Montview Elementary School will be built in 2027/2028.