Design for Choice Career High School
A Different Kind of High School Experience for Mesquite ISD
Mesquite ISD’s Choice Career High School, currently in the design phase, is the centerpiece of the District’s plan to address the growing population of students in its existing five high schools. This new campus will offer a unique option for a career-focused education to high school students from across the District and will serve as the home campus for those students who choose this path. The 250,000 SF campus will feature four schools with multiple programs within each: School of Technology, School of Engineering, School of Construction Science, and School of Health Sciences.
The building’s architecture mirrors the career and professional focus of its curriculum offerings, taking its cues from university and commercial office buildings. Envisioned to look more like a high-tech office complex than a traditional high school, this new concept will serve 2,000 students, and unlike the District's traditional high schools, the Choice Career High School will not offer extracurricular programs like fine arts and athletics; rather, the curriculum will be intensely focused on academics and career or college preparation.
The campus perched atop a hill will be built on a 44-acre undeveloped site. With mature trees and an existing pond, this location is just east of the city’s Softball Complex. The building will utilize sustainability features focused on reducing energy consumption, minimizing long-term environmental impact, and daylighting to efficiently reduce the cost of lighting and cooling.