Three things to know about construction of the new W.P. Grier Middle School

The Gaston County Board of Education held an event Tuesday at which visitors watched as the last beam was set in place for the roof of the new W.P. Grier Middle School.

According to the district, construction on the facility is progressing nicely and is on track to be completed in 2025.

Here are three key things to know about the project:

1. Timeline

1956: W.P. Grier Middle School opened for children ranging in age from first graders to ninth graders.

1969: The school became a junior high school, moving elementary aged children over to Sherwood Elementary School.

1980s: Several additions were made to the campus including a gymnasium, music classrooms, and more.

1997: Grier officially became a middle school serving gaston sixth through eighth graders.

May 2018: Voters approved millions in school bonds to build new schools in the county.

Oct. 2023: The county held an official ground breaking ceremony for the new W.P. Grier Middle School, which is located just behind the existing building at 1622 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia.

2. Cost

Building the new Grier Middle School has an estimated cost of $50 - $60 million, according to a Gaston County school District News article.

The price is, “higher than previous middle school construction projects due to inflation,” it said.

3. Specs

The new W.P. Grier Middle School will be a two-story, 155,000-sqare-foot building constructed on the former W.P. Grier football field.

The new school will serve roughly 1,000 students but could serve as many as 1,200, according to the district article.

When construction is complete on the new building, demolition will begin on the former school building, which will be replaced with a new sports complex.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Construction is coming along on the new W.P. Grier Middle School