On Monday, Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District launched a new website focused on sharing information about construction of the new Starkville High School. Centered on "Building for a new era of Excellence," the web presence, which is available at www.starkvillesd.com/construction, is part of the district's effort to provide community members and district families with current information about the progress of construction, programming to be offered at the new school, and details about the district's partnership with Mississippi State University.
"It's a new era for the district and our partnership with MSU as we are starting to see visible progress on the construction of the new Starkville High School," said SOCSD Superintendent Dr. Tony McGee. "It's a space worthy of the excellent work our students and faculty are accomplishing every day, and we hope it will be a showpiece that the community can be proud of. Beyond that, we truly believe it will impact educational opportunities in Oktibbeha County for generations of students, opening up new learning experiences."
Slated to open in Summer 2028, the new Starkville High School has been in the planning phases for more than two years. The 227,000 square foot facility is designed to maximize the district's ability to provide expanded opportunities for 9th-12th grade students in academics, advanced studies, the arts, activities and athletics. It is the first facility of its kind in the nation that will house all 9th-12th grade students from a single district on a college campus.
The land adjacent to the current Partnership School where the facility will be located was donated by Mississippi State and represents the primary contribution of the university to the project. In September 2025, SOCSD and MSU signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the expanded partnership that began more than ten years ago with the development of the current middle school.
Although the district has discussed the high school project in open public board meetings for the last three years and presented information at various community events, SOCSD Director of Communications Haley Montgomery says the district is excited to reach a point in the project when they can share more.
"It's really an exciting project for our entire community, not just our students, and this website will allow stakeholders to keep up to date," Montgomery said. "We've been very intentional about trying to make sure the information released is accurate and presented at the appropriate time. This month, the project received IHL approval, and we have released our building package for bids. So, we feel confident that what we are able to share with the public now really represents a good picture of the facility and what it will offer students."
In addition to information about the facility's programming and features, the website releases the first digital renderings of the facility's exterior appearance as well as the site plan for the unified campus. It also offers an ongoing project timeline and a set of "Frequently Asked Questions." Montgomery says that a key component of the site is a form that allows community members to share their comments and ask questions.
"The district values input from our community members, partners and families, and the site includes a trackable way for people to ask questions," she said. "Our goal is not only to inform our stakeholders, but to really get them excited about the project and provide the tools they need to share with their neighbors in the greater Starkville area and around the state. It's an exciting time for our district as we think about what the new Starkville High School will provide the children in our county."
Montgomery adds that although much thought has gone into the design and development phase of the project, there is still much innovative work to be done.
"The renderings from our design partners really help the project come to life and are generating some excitement as we begin the construction process," she said. "But, our team is continuing to work every day to build innovative opportunities and expand on the learning experiences our students can access in such close proximity to Mississippi State. The future really is bright, and that's the most important thing we can communicate."
