Back-to-School 2026: GCPS opens a new school and features school additions and improvements at the start of the school year

     Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) begins the school year with the opening of a new middle school, the completion of an elementary school addition, and renovations and improvements at several existing schools. The new school building, additional classrooms, special Purpose Local Option Sales tax (E-SPLOST) approved by voters– that provides learning environments that are safe, comfortable, dry, and focused on the needs of today’s learners.

New School Opening:

• GCPS is proud to announce completion of our first newly constructed school since 2022, opening the doors of Murphy Middle School to students in the Archer Cluster this August. Construction began on Murphy Middle in December 2023, and attendance boundaries for the new school were established through the redistricting process in Fall 2025. This new middle school is a 209,000 square-foot facility and provides capacity for 1,100 students.

Additions/Renovations for the 2026-27 School Year:

• During the summer, construction concluded on a 20-classroom addition at Harbins Elementary School. Construction on this project began in December 2024, providing an additional 42,364 square feet of classroom space, and capacity for an additional 450 students in the Archer Cluster.
• Construction also continued to progress over the summer on the renovation and classroom addition project at Shiloh Middle School. The new addition at Shiloh Middle will be completed to open in August 2027.
• Construction at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) was concluded with the fourth-floor build-out and multi-purpose auditorium. The fourth-floor build-out will be ready for school in August and the multi-purpose auditorium will be completed to open in the 2027-28 school year.
• Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) /Academy Lab Projects – Five CTAE lab projects were completed over the summer. Projects include an Audio, Video, Technology & Film (AVTF) Lab and Marketing Lab at Norcross High School, an AVTF Lab at South Gwinnett High School, an Information Technology Lab at Paul Duke STEM High School, and a Computer Science Lab at Summerour Middle School. In addition, three more CTAE labs are included as part of the ongoing renovation and addition projects at the GSMST and Shiloh Middle. Renovations at Shiloh Middle include a new Computer Science Lab, while GSMST will add a Business Education Lab and an Information Technology Lab.
• HVAC Replacements – HVAC systems were replaced in buildings at Harbins Elementary, Head Elementary School, Magill Elementary School, Mason Elementary School, and Simpson Elementary School.
• Roofing Replacements – Roofing systems were replaced on buildings at Berkeley Lake Elementary School, Berkmar High School, Bethesda Elementary School, Dacula Middle School, Duluth High School, Fort Daniel Elementary School, Meadowcreek High School, Nesbit Elementary School, and Sweetwater Middle School.
• Asphalt Paving – New asphalt paving projects were completed to refresh parking lots and driveways at 12 schools throughout the county– Alford Elementary School, Bay Creek Middle School, Berkeley Lake Elementary School, Bethesda Elementary School, Brookwood Elementary School, Cooper Elementary School, GIVE Center East, GIVE Center West, Hull Middle School, North Gwinnett High School, Patrick Elementary School, and Rosebud Elementary School.
• Athletics Projects – Three athletics-related projects are in progress across the district. New soccer fields have been designed, and construction will start soon at Dacula Middle and Duluth Middle, to be ready for the next season of soccer in January. Design work for a second fieldhouse at South Gwinnett High has been completed, with construction planned to begin in September of this year.
• Carpet and Painting Projects – Carpet replacement and interior painting projects are completed throughout the year with careful coordination to minimize disruption to student learning. Several schools received new carpet and paint finishes during the summer break, welcoming staff and students back to a refreshed learning environment.

For the 2026-27 school year, GCPS will operate 143 schools:

• 81 elementary schools (grades K–5)
• 30 middle schools (grades 6–8)
• 24 high schools (grades 9–12), including 20 cluster high schools, GSMST; Paul Duke STEM High School; McClure Health Science High School, and Phoenix High School (open campus school, grades 10–12, with a satellite campus at Sugarloaf Mills)

Other educational facilities:

• Gwinnett Online Campus (online school, grades k–12)
• Buice Center, housing the ADAPT, STRIVE, and BRIDGE programs (special education programs)
• GIVE Center East (alternative school, grades 6–12)
• GIVE Center West (alternative school, grades 6–12)
• The International Transition Center (program at six high school sites— Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Discovery, Duluth, Meadowcreek, and Norcross)
• Maxwell High School of Technology (CTAE school, grades 9-12)
• Oakland Meadow School (special education school)
• New Life Academy of Excellence (charter school, grades K–8)