Community Rallies To Support the Future of Public Education
Mesa County Valley School District 51 will open a new high school that will offer a variety of career paths for students.
Sponsored by: Mesa Valley County School District 51
When it opens for the 2024-25 school year, the all-new Grand Junction High School in Grand Junction, CO, will be a testament to the support of its community.
Mesa County voters approved a bond measure to rebuild the high school, one of 46 schools and programs within Mesa County Valley School District 51.
The new three-story, 250,000 square-foot building will have capacity for between 1,600 and 1,900 students and will include a community performing arts center, an athletic center, a flexible common area and 21st-century classroom technology throughout.
The high school will offer various career paths and academies, from arts and humanities to business and entrepreneurship, and from engineering, technology and natural resources to health sciences and human services.
“This building is the best that we can imagine,” says Jory Sorensen, principal of Grand Junction High School. “It allows our kids to collaborate in a lot of different ways, with each other and with our local community. And they’re able to do it in a way that’s so connected that it’s really going to increase what the world needs right now, which is effective teamwork, collaboration and individual, intentional work.”
The new high school aligns directly with the district’s community-driven strategic plan that focuses on prepared and supported students, prepared and supported staff, and engaged and supportive community partners.
“Thanks to the support of our community, our students will continue to receive high-quality education, now in a 21st-century learning environment they deserve,” says District 51 Superintendent Brian Hill. “We can now embrace the promising future and the countless opportunities this building will provide for our GJHS school community.”
Clint Garcia, chief operations officer for District 51, agrees wholeheartedly.
“There has been an investment made in our students through public education,” Garcia says. “It is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of progress and innovation. It’s a beacon of hope for the future of education in our community.”