Jarrell Ranch Middle School

The new middle school is part of a 2023 bond to address a fast-growing community. Pre-design of the project included visioning, programming, charrettes, and planning sessions with district leaders, faculty and staff, plus parents and community members. The selected site is 114 acres, of which 1/3 will be developed for the middle school, leaving the remainder of the site for a future campus as the district grows.

The goal for design was to create a user friendly configuration that met academic needs within the building and on the site. Public and visitor utilization was an important factor in the arrangement of the campus and fine arts and athletics are located near the entry on the public facing side of the school. Learning environments are located on a more private, secure portion of the site. During pre-design, stakeholders prioritized the design of a secure outdoor courtyard to serve multiple uses for activities during school and after hours; the dining area, library, fine arts and CTE programs all have a direct connection to the courtyard. The space also serves as a social and performance space while supporting overall well-being for students.

Today, the school accommodates 700 students but was designed with academic expansion in mind for a total capacity of 1,200. It also includes a practice gymnasium for 300 and a competition gymnasium for 900 spectators.