As Apex grows and expands, the need for more public schools grows, too. Voters likely noted the bond on the ballot this year. Whether this $530.7 million bond passed or not, new construction is on the horizon. I spoke to Douglas Congdon, Program Executive for Facilities Design and Construction at Wake County Public Schools. He shared the following three construction projects—two of which are new, and one is the demolition and reconstruction of a long-time elementary school.
Felton Grove High School (8550 Stephenson Road) is new construction slated to begin in early 2023 with a completion date about 2+ years out, weather permitting. Based on this timing, Felton Grove High School will likely welcome students for the 2025/2026 school year. Because this school will sit near the intersection of Holly Springs, Apex and Cary, it’s unclear if student assignments will include children from all three towns. Congdon noted that those kinds of decisions happen about a year prior to the related school year.
There will be a full complement of athletic facilities, a state-of-the-art auditorium fully equipped for theatrical events, and a cafeteria. The school’s close proximity to I-540 creates easy access. And, it will have a convenient parking deck for students, faculty and other staff. Felton Grove will be able to accommodate up to 2,240 students.
Pleasant Plains Elementary School is new construction slated to begin in 2024 with an expected completion date around the summer of 2025. This school will accommodate up to 716 students and should be open for the 2025/2026 school year. Like Felton Grove High School, Pleasant Plains will also be close to I-540. Its design will accommodate carpool traffic on site (i.e., absorbed into the parking area). Among the design details is a focus on the creation of myriad outdoor learning spaces and the inclusion of pedestrian bike access. The location is near Pleasant Plains Road and Old US 1.
AV Baucom Elementary School, located on Hunter Street between Highway 55 and Salem Street, is a demolition/reconstruction job. This over 50-year-old school is overdue for an upgrade which is slated to begin in late January 2023.
One of the noteworthy changes taking place at AV Baucom is a focus on creating outside teaching space. For students, having the ability to be outside and learn is a game changer. The success of similar outdoor learning spaces at other newer elementary schools informed the inclusion of this with the AV Baucom renovation.
“To be outside of the building and learn is a big deal. It’s a really important component to this construction,” Congdon said.
In addition, Congdon shared that they will be maximizing areas inside the school to create “collaboration spaces.”
“About every five or six classrooms there will be an open area. The selected lighting, furniture, seating, and so forth all there to facilitate a collaborative spirit, and to make it a fresh and different learning space,” said Congdon.
The cafeteria and gym will have built-in movable walls. This versatile feature will allow the school to quickly and easily convert these areas into different spaces when the need arises (for concerts, assemblies, and graduations, for example).
Additionally, there will be a Reading Garden outside of the library. This external space will feature different plantings and align with the aforementioned focus on adding myriad outdoor learning places. Congdon noted that there will be a Learning Commons which overlooks the planned courtyard area. And, for the younger students, there will be a special treehouse to stimulate both physical and intellectual curiosity.
AV Baucom students will be redirected to the new Woods Creek Elementary School as soon as Woods Creek is completed (tracking to late January 2023). The AV Baucom demolition will start immediately thereafter. Completion of the new construction on Hunter Street is estimated for summer 2024.
The new AV Baucom school will accommodate up to 716 students. Students are expected to move in for the 2024/2025 school year. As soon as this transition occurs, Woods Creek Elementary School will open its doors to their assigned students. Woods Creek Elementary School is about five minutes from the Apex Friendship schools.
