Huntsville City Schools has officially broken ground on a $70 million project to create a shared campus for Chapman Middle School, a reimagined STEM Magnet Middle School, and Artemis Virtual Academy.
A New Vision for Middle School Education
Superintendent Clarence Sutton, Mayor Tommy Battle, State Senator Sam Givhan, school board members, and educators joined the ceremony on January 8, 2026. The new campus will be located at the current Chapman Middle site on Reuben Drive and is expected to open in January 2028.
The project spans 29 acres and includes nearly 162,000 square feet of space. Features will include specialized classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, athletic facilities, interactive teaching walls, an e-gaming lab, and a dedicated arena for robotics and drone competitions.
Serving Students Across Huntsville
Chapman Middle School and the new STEM Magnet Middle will continue to serve grades six through eight. Chapman will remain a neighborhood school in the Lee feeder pattern, while the STEM Magnet Middle School will draw students from across the city. Artemis Virtual Academy will continue offering education for students in grades K through 12.
By combining these schools on one campus, the district aims to honor Chapman’s long history while creating an innovative, future-focused learning environment.
Partnership and Support
Architects McMillan Pazdan Smith, TCU Consulting Services, and Lee Builders are leading the project. The City of Huntsville and the Madison County Commission are providing support as part of the district’s 10-year, $600 million capital plan.
Officials say the new campus reflects a commitment to modern learning, STEM-focused innovation, and community engagement, while preserving Chapman’s role in the neighborhood for generations to come.
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