Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  The new Gulf Shores High School is open and already welcoming visitors, even as crews continue moving furniture into the building. School officials said the campus is not yet finished, but significant progress has been made. The facility has already hosted major educational conferences despite ongoing construction. District employees continue to spend the summer preparing the school for the upcoming academic year.

The campus recently welcomed attendees from the Alabama Association of School Boards conference and the superintendent association conference. Between 40 and 50 superintendents and school board members toured the new high school to see its classrooms, learning spaces, and other features.

Among the visitors was Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey, who spent about two hours touring the new campus. School leaders said the visiting superintendents and board members were very impressed with what they saw.

The opening of the new high school is part of a broader reorganization across the Gulf Shores City School System. The former high school has become the new middle school, and the elementary school has moved into the building that previously housed the middle school.

School officials said work continues at each campus as furniture, equipment, and classroom materials are being moved into place. Although more work remains before everything is complete, they said steady progress is being made to have all three schools ready before students return.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Gulf Shores High School is scheduled for early August. The event will also feature tours for community members, offering residents a chance to see the new campus before the school year begins.

District employees have spent an exceptionally busy summer preparing for the transition. In addition to opening the new high school, staff members have worked across all three campuses to complete the district's reorganization and ensure classrooms are ready for students.