Faculty and community leaders held a ribbon-cutting Monday, officially opening the new state-of-the-art high school in Gulf Shores.

“This new high school represents our community’s commitment to creating a world-class educational environment for our students,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft. “It’s an investment in the future of Gulf Shores, and we are proud to open a facility that reflects the energy, ambition, and spirit of our city.”

The school will offer “Tuesday Tours” for community members on Tuesdays, August 11th, 18th and 25th.

The 287,000-square-foot campus carried an estimated price tag of $137 million, according to the City of Gulf Shores.

Gulf Shores was the first city in Baldwin County to break from the Baldwin County school system in 2017. It began operations in the summer of 2019. Since then, Orange Beach also broke away from the county school system in 2022.
Consideration is now being given in Fairhope to forming its own city school system.

The new high school is part of a 10-year master plan Gulf Shores School and City officials adopted in 2021. Ground was broken in April 2024. Project manager was Volkert, Inc.

The new school offers a kitchen for culinary classes, a robotics classroom, a wrestling gym/tornado shelter, a covered football practice field, collaborative work spaces, outdoor learning areas, a broadcast and recording studio and a theater.

Students start classes Wednesday, August 12.

Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler is a freelance writer about the colorful and positive in Alabama — her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected]