High Point High School: Designed with Community at the Center
By Robert Nelson - Published July 10, 2026
Prince George's County Public Schools' Department of Capital Programs is moving forward with plans for a brand-new High Point High School, a transformative investment that will serve the northern area of the county for generations to come.
The new facility, designed by award-winning firm Grimm + Parker Architects, will replace the existing building at 3601 Powder Mill Road with a state-of-the-art, 423,000-square-foot facility that will serve up to 2,600 students. With a projected completion date of 2032, the project is steadily advancing through the design phase.
What makes this project stand out is not just its scale, but how it is being built. From the beginning, Grimm + Parker has taken a community-first approach, ensuring the people who know High Point best help shape the future of their school.
High Point Principal Dr. Miguel Chacón appointed a Project Planning Committee (PPC), a diverse group of teachers, staff, students, PTA representatives, neighborhood members, local business owners, and elected officials, to help guide the project. The committee serves as the voice of the High Point community throughout the design and construction process and has met regularly throughout the school year to discuss key decisions, including site design, the construction approach, and the school's future identity.
Through community surveys, focus groups, and visioning sessions, the design team gathered input from over 120 students, parents, and staff. Respondents wanted a school that is safe and welcoming, culturally inclusive, and filled with flexible spaces that support diverse learning styles. They envisioned "a place that brings people together and celebrates local identity" and "a welcoming, safe space that inspires learning and pride."
Those voices are directly reflected in the five design goals Grimm + Parker established for the project: diverse and flexible learning environments; a culturally inclusive building with large community gathering spaces; a green campus with abundant natural light; safe and clearly navigable circulation; and a building that honors High Point's history and unique identity as one of the highest geographic points in the county.
PPC members have been especially vocal about preserving what makes High Point special, and the design team has committed to celebrating the school's history and fostering a distinct sense of place. Committee members even toured the Grimm + Parker-designed Ellen Ochoa Middle School in Prince George's County and Woodward High School in Montgomery County to see firsthand how modern school design can bring that vision to life.
As families head into summer break, community engagement continues. Department of Capital Programs Planner Chris Jenkins is leading efforts to identify community-use spaces within the new school that can serve students, families, and neighborhood partners beyond the school day. The goal is to strengthen connections between the school and the surrounding community.
Looking further ahead, Design Development drawings are projected to be submitted to PGCPS in July 2026, with construction documents to follow in early 2027. Construction is slated to begin in Summer 2028, with completion projected for 2032. This is an exciting moment for the High Point community, and the work underway this summer will help shape a school that meets the needs of future generations of Eagles.
Community members who want to follow the project's progress can visit the project page at www.pgcps.org/offices/capital-programs/projects/high-point or reach the team at capital.programs@pgcps.org.
