Destin High School is set to open an expansive new three-story, $10 million classroom building next month that will double the size of the charter school’s campus. 

• Today begins “move in” day for the school as furniture begins to make its way through the doors.

The 25,000-square-foot addition adjacent to the existing 25,000-square-foot building will add 23 spacious new classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology to the school’s current 20 when students return from Christmas break Jan. 10.

“As you can see, it’s a complete state-of-the-art facility that we’ve added,” said Donald “Willy” Williams, who started as the school’s executive director in September.

Classrooms features 85-inch monitors, whiteboards and more than enough space for collaboration and personalized learning. Some of the classrooms feature Destin High School’s blue color on the floors. “The classrooms are almost double the size of what they’re in currently,” Williams said.

Everything is wired to integrate with the existing building’s network and communications system. The $10 million project took about one year to construct.

Williams led Get The Coast on a tour through the building Wednesday, with sweeping views of Destin to the south and the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village next door.

• “The teachers are giddy,” Williams said. “They are excited to see where their classroom will be because everybody’s got their name on the classroom already.”

The new addition will house students in grades 9th through 12th when they return from Christmas break, with a few classes remaining in the original building. Williams said they are exploring repurposing some of that space as enrollment grows.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for Jan. 25 at 6pm, followed by a community open house to showcase the new facility.

More space needed as enrollment grows

The school has already outgrown its current footprint. Enrollment has swelled to around 550 students this school year, requiring a split schedule with some morning classes and some afternoon classes.

“That was just because the school had busted out of the seams,” Williams explained.

That split schedule will end in January when the school returns to regular 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours. And while the charter allows up to 1,000 students, Williams hopes to boost enrollment to 800 next school year.

“Right now we’re looking to try to bring 250 kids in for the ninth grade class next year,” he said. “That would create a healthy ninth grade class that continues on for the next four years.”

Meeting student needs now and in the future

As enrollment grows, so will the need for more opportunities and facilities focused specifically around Destin High School students.

Williams has asked the school’s board advisory council to develop a long-term master plan examining everything from athletics to performing arts, to expanding existing curriculum like hospitality.

• “I’ve asked the board advisory council to look at it from a master planning perspective — where do we go from here?” Williams said. “What is the big idea for Destin High at this point?”

He said one focus area could be on better fine arts and performing arts spaces. The school has hired a new band director that will begin in January and Williams said interest in the school’s band and choir programs have shown huge interest already from students.

• “We’ve got to now pour into this,” he said of the arts programs. “For me, it’s about figuring out how to provide all of these opportunities for students to make sure they’re getting a real comprehensive high school experience here, which is why the school was built.”

While the master planning process is still in early phases, Williams said figuring out the best ways to spend dollars on enrichment opportunities is critical for students’ futures.

“A lot of kids don’t even know in college what they want to do,” he said. “But if we can get kids into something they’re excited about and inspired about, then they can turn around and pour right back into their hometown. And what a gift we would have been able to provide them.”

For now, the Sharks will focus on moving into the facility, getting acclimated with the new campus footprint and be ready to go for the students come January.