Inside North Clayton's Nearly $250 Million New High School: Athletic Facilities, Career Classrooms and a 2028 Target

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A new high school rising south of Atlanta's airport is getting attention for a price tag approaching a quarter-billion dollars—and for facilities that sound more like those on a college campus. Clayton County Public Schools' plan for North Clayton High School carries an approved total project amount of approximately $246.1 million, including classrooms, athletic facilities, professional fees and other project costs.

There is an important geographic distinction: this is a Clayton County public school project, not a City of Atlanta school construction project. The campus is planned at 1730 East Pleasant Hill Road, not far from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and will replace North Clayton's aging existing building.

Where the $246 million goes

The AJC reported that the school board's total project authorization was $246,102,376.03. That is different from the approximately $228,959,598 construction price listed on the district's current SPLOST tracker. The additional project costs include components such as fees, furniture and contingencies; readers should not confuse the total financing figure with one contractor's building price.

The board-approved athletic program includes an $17.6 million indoor practice facility, while the golf course and associated facilities carry a reported cost of about $9.9 million. Those are major components, but they do not represent the entire school's mission or budget.

A new home for classrooms, arts and career training

District construction materials describe a modern, three-story campus planned for approximately 1,700 students. Academic features include science laboratories, career, technical and agricultural education classrooms, a fine-arts suite, a 500-seat auditorium and competition and auxiliary gyms. Athletic plans also include turf baseball and softball fields, practice fields, tennis courts and a 5K running course.

Architect Perkins&Will designed the building, and the district lists Carroll Daniel Construction as contractor. Architectural concepts have emphasized a building shaped, from above, in a way that reflects the North Clayton Eagles mascot.

A $17.6 million indoor practice facility—why?

Reports about the facilities have sparked understandable questions about spending priorities. The indoor turf practice space is intended to support athletes and activities even in poor weather. According to project coverage quoting the architect, the district also intends the facility to serve students beyond just the new school's football team. The three-hole golf complex is intended to introduce a sport that often has substantial barriers to entry.

Those intended benefits matter, but they do not eliminate legitimate public questions about operating costs, maintenance, student access or whether construction dollars are balanced across academic and athletic needs. Taxpayers can judge the project more fairly when they compare the full educational program—not only the most viral amenity.

When will the new school open?

Earlier 2025 reporting cited target dates in 2027. Clayton County Public Schools' currently published SPLOST project tracker, however, lists August 2028 as the projected completion for North Clayton High. This is the most recent district-listed figure checked for this article.

A projected construction completion is not the same as an officially announced first day of classes. Families should rely on future district communications for enrollment, student transfers and an opening date rather than assume those milestones are guaranteed.

See the original renderings

Architectural views have been circulated by the district and reproduced in local news coverage. The user-shared Instagram post is one additional presentation of the designs. For multiple angles including the indoor athletic facility, readers can view the Clayton County Schools rendering gallery.

All images are plans and design concepts. They are not photographs of completed facilities, and finished construction details could change.

The Georgia inside the story

For Clayton County families, the most important outcome will be the educational experience inside the new campus: labs, arts spaces, technical training and facilities students can use. For taxpayers across Georgia, the project is a case study in how a rapidly changing metro area makes decisions about public-school infrastructure and the value of a very large investment.

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