Prattville leaders weigh funding for proposed $150 million high school
Prattville and Autauga County officials are still weighing whether to make a major local financial commitment to a proposed replacement Prattville High School campus near Central Alabama Community College. The proposed school is estimated to cost approximately $150 million, but the project has not received a final city funding commitment or construction approval in the approved reporting.
The issue remained active at a July 14 education roundtable in Prattville, where leaders described the proposed school as part of a broader discussion about education, workforce development and quality of life. School officials have sought a clearer funding commitment from the City of Prattville and Autauga County as they consider how the project could move forward.
Funding questions remain open
The Prattville City Council discussed a possible funding pledge during a June 26 work session. The school board requested approximately $6 million from the City of Prattville. A worst-case estimate cited for the project’s annual funding needs was approximately $9 million.
Those figures are estimates and requests under consideration, not an indication that the city or county has approved the money. The available material does not identify a final financing plan, a construction authorization or a completed project schedule.
Autauga County Schools’ fiscal 2026 budget overview lists approximately $110 million in revenues and $121 million in expenditures. The district identifies school-facility, enrollment, special-education and maintenance concerns in that budget material. Those figures provide financial context for the ongoing discussion, but they do not establish that the proposed high school is funded.
Potential road work could affect Old Ridge Road
The proposed campus would be located near the Central Alabama Community College campus. Related road work on Old Ridge Road could cost up to approximately $8 million.
That road work remains a potential project. Officials have not formally authorized it in the approved material, so residents and commuters should not treat the improvements as scheduled construction.
If the school and associated infrastructure advance, the decisions could have practical implications for Prattville parents, students, school employees, taxpayers and people who use Old Ridge Road. The project’s scale also places the discussion at the intersection of secondary education, local government funding and transportation planning.
Next steps
City and county officials are expected to continue considering the proposed financial commitment and the related site and road questions. The project timeline and final site remain subject to additional decisions. As of the latest approved reporting, the central question is still whether Prattville and Autauga County will commit the funding needed for the proposed campus.
Sources
- Prattville Leaders Publicly Weigh Future Of Education During Chamber Roundtable, Elmore-Autauga News
- Prattville weighs funding pledge for Autauga County schools, new high school, Prism News / Elmore-Autauga News
- FY2026 Budget Overview, Autauga County Schools
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