MIDLAND, Texas — The Midland Planning and Zoning Commission approved a final plat for a new school that will be bringing new higher education classes to Midland.
Officially known as Harmony Science Academy Midland, the new campus has been in the works for about two years now.
“Harmony is known as Texas' largest STEM schools," Harmony School Chief Development Officer Dr. Gina Gregory said. "So we are bringing STEM education, high quality STEM education to the Midland community”
STEM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Harmony plans on introducing these types of classes to Midland's young minds, who will have all the newest technology at their disposal.
“We have makerspaces in all of our campuses that will have 3D printers," Dr. Gregory said. "Our students will be learning how to do robotics starting in elementary school, as well as working with drones and the 3D printers they started computer coding in elementary.”
This new school will be in the northeastern part of Midland, just off of loop 250. Already, some of groundwork has been laid out to bring in portable classes and get the campus built.
All the school needed was one last approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission, which they got unanimously.
Now, their work can begin.
“Once we can get the address we can formally get a permit and then we can start construction on this project as well," LCA Inc. Site Engineer Levi Byrand said. "So that helps us start our rough grading for our roads, put in our water lines that we need and put in on our water meters, make our electrical ties and then start building up with our modules and paving and curb and gutter and make it look like a usable school site.”
According to Dr. Gregory, the project won’t take long either. She says that kids will already be starting their classes by the next school year.
“Kids in seats will be in August of 2024. Buildings being brought in for year one should be happening in the next two months.”
Pre-K through fifth grade students will get the first opportunity at the new schools. Phase 2 of Harmony School's plan will include a new high school for sixth through twelfth grade students.
Students will be selected for the school by a computerized lottery system, which parents can sign up for on their website.