New Santa Rosa County high school’s exterior structure completed

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. ( WKRG ) — Santa Rosa County’s newest high school, Soundside High School, celebrated Thursday as the final beam was placed on the building’s exterior construction.

The future high school is located across the Gulf Breeze Zoo off Highway 98 and is set to be completed in time for the fall of the 2026-’27 school year.

“There’s an outstanding tradition of educational excellence that’s here, and we’ll continue that at Soundside High School and build upon that,” Santa Rosa County Superintendent Karen Barber said.

Santa Rosa County residents in attendance got to sign their names on the final beam that completed the exterior construction.

This state-of-the-art school will include 74 classrooms, science labs, athletic fields and a new field house. Soundside High School will serve roughly 1,800 new students once open.

Dr. Barber said this high school will focus on STEM classes, allowing students to learn workforce skills not available at all high schools.

“We’re right across from the Gulf Breeze Zoo, so there’s going to be a veterinary tech program here at Soundside High School as well as a small engine repair academy and many other academies including welding for the students here,” Barber said. “We’re all about workforce education and making sure our students are ready for their future, no matter what it is.”

Area residents voted on the name, choosing Soundside over Bayview and Midway.

Construction costs of this project are estimated to be around $114 million with funds from local option sales tax revenue and property taxes. Discussions on zoning for the new high school are planned to be had in 2025.

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