Wake County names new western high school Morrisville High

The Wake County school board voted to name the district's planned H-14 campus Morrisville High, a decision that formalizes a long-sought symbol of local identity as the school system expands into the fast-growing western edge of the county. The new high school is scheduled to open in 2027.

Town leaders in Morrisville pressed the board to use the town's name rather than a roadway or other geographic label, arguing for a school that reflects the community it will serve. The board's facilities committee had recommended Morrisville High from three staff-suggested options: Paramount Parkway High, Parkside High and Morrisville High. Paramount Parkway is the main road for accessing the site; Parkside reflected the campus' proximity to Research Triangle Park.

School board vice chair Chris Heagarty, whose district includes much of Morrisville, credited local cooperation for making the school possible. "It took a lot of creative thought, and there are so many people who are very excited about this," said Heagarty.

The district has moved cautiously into Morrisville because of high land prices. Until this school year, Morrisville had not had a traditional Wake County district high school; the Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies opened on Wake Technical Community College's Research Triangle Park campus to serve students who otherwise would have faced long commutes. The school board recently completed acquisition of 34 acres on Wake Tech's RTP campus to site the new Morrisville High.

Because the school parcel is compact, planners say some athletics needs may rely on nearby facilities. The district is considering use of a baseball field that might be built in Mills Park in Cary to support the new school's program, a plan that underscores cross-jurisdictional coordination between Morrisville, Cary and county agencies.

For local families, the new school matters beyond a name. It promises reduced travel times for students in western Wake neighborhoods, potential new pathways to technology and biotech careers given the proximity to RTP and Wake Tech, and additional capacity to relieve overcrowding in neighboring high schools. Public health and equity concerns are also at stake: closer schools can lower stress on students and families, broaden access to extracurriculars and sports, and reduce transportation-related emissions that affect neighborhood air quality.

The decision also reflects equity in recognition. Choosing Morrisville High signals the town's growing civic presence in Wake County's educational map after years of development and rising land costs that delayed a home district high school.

The takeaway? Get involved early. Watch school board and town planning meetings for updates on attendance zones, transportation plans and shared facilities like the Mills Park field so families can weigh in on access, after-school programs and student health supports. Our two cents? Show up, ask how this school will serve your neighborhood, and push for the services that make a new high school more than a building — a healthy, equitable place for all students.