Leaders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and Chesterfield County government cut a ribbon today to officially open the new Falling Creek Middle School. Completed on time and under budget next to the old Falling Creek Middle, the new building is Chesterfield’s first three-story middle school and the largest middle school in central Virginia. It cost $103 million and was financed by Virginia Public School Authority bonds.
Falling Creek Middle Principal Quincy Waller said that he and his team are looking forward to greeting students at the start of the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 19. “What a happy moment as we open the doors to our brand-new building and begin a new era,” Waller said.
Built for 1,800 students, the 238,963-square-foot school in the Dale District positions sixth, seventh and eighth graders on separate floors. Each “grade house” contains 19 regular classrooms and five science labs, as well as dispersed conference rooms, teacher workrooms and offices. In addition to the grade houses, an exploratory wing offers electives in such courses as art, world language, technology/fabrication, business and family and consumer science.
Dominique Chatters, who represents the Dale District on the Chesterfield County School Board, said, “This is a great day! Since ground was broken in September 2022 — not quite two years ago — it has been incredible to observe the new Falling Creek Middle rise and become a beautiful space where students will thrive.”
The school includes a 1,000-seat auditorium, 650-student capacity cafeteria, 1,200-seat gym with adjacent locker rooms and an auxiliary gym. A music suite next to the auditorium includes spaces for band, chorus, orchestra and drama. The media center is located on the second floor. The school's main entrance includes a security vestibule flanked by administrative offices and the counseling department. Other security measures include cameras, card access readers and fencing.
Eventually, the old Falling Creek Middle building will be demolished and the site will be developed to include an eight-lane running track around a soccer field, a softball field and tennis and basketball courts. But through spring 2026, the old building will house Bensley Elementary while a replacement school is built on the current Bensley Elementary site.
Click here for more information about Falling Creek Middle School. See more photos of the event and the school here.