Despite Cost, Residents Prefer Patriot Prototype Design for 13th High School

In a survey conducted by Bristow Beat, 73 percent of 454 respondents chose the proposed prototype that would feature a similar design to Patriot High School, over the other proposal that would follow the design used to build Freedom/Battlefield High Schools. In follow-up interviews, residents cited the educational benefits of the Patriot design as the primary reason they chose it. The Patriot prototype has classrooms that are approximately 50 square feet larger, a larger auditorium, natural daylight in classrooms from an increased number of windows and an additional courtyard. However, this model would also cost an additional $18 million over the Freedom/Battlefield design, which didn't deter a majority of residents. "For how much money Western PWC brings to the county, I don't see how any other choice other than the Patriot style would be chosen," one resident said. "If they build anything else, they would risk losing people moving away to counties with better schools." It was the expense of the Patriot prototype that concerned School Board members when staff presented the design choices April 2. The Board will choose the prototype as well as designs for a western middle school (Linton Hall Area) at the April 23 meeting.