New Hernando High School celebrated with ribbon cutting
July 25, 2025 – With the snip of a ceremonial ribbon and a crowd of supporters on hand, officials have opened the new Hernando High School on Wednesday, marking a milestone for DeSoto County Schools and the rapidly growing Hernando community.
The $87 million campus, built to accommodate 1,800 students, spans 94 acres and includes a 215,000-square-foot main building, along with 17 additional structures. Designed by Allen & Hoshall and constructed by Murphy & Sons, the school features state-of-the-art classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, an art center, and expansive athletic facilities.
DCS Supt. Cory Uselton said the building plan resembles the Horn Lake High School facility built 2006.
“That floor plan worked very well for us, so we used that,” Uselton said. “We used a bit more of a modern front. The commons area is more modern and there’s a modern look to it, compared to our other schools.”
With the continuing growth of Hernando, Uselton said the new high school opens more space for those students, and more space elsewhere in the Hernando attendance area.
“We outgrew the other campuses in town, especially our elementary schools,” said Uselton. “This (high school) offers us one more school and more classrooms here in Hernando.”
He specifically said it will benefit Oak Grove Central Elementary, Hernando Elementary, and Hernando Middle School, which now moves into the old high school facility.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together school leaders, elected officials, community members, and business sponsors to celebrate the achievement.
Principal Dwayne Case expressed deep pride in the new school and the community’s role in bringing it to life.
“This facility represents a bright future for Hernando,” Case said. “Our teachers and staff have worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment, and we can’t wait to welcome students into a space that inspires learning.”
Mayor Chip Johnson noted the city’s commitment to supporting the project through infrastructure improvements, including a new road resurfacing and nearby traffic signal to accommodate increased traffic.
“This new high school ensures we can continue providing high-quality education as our city grows,” Johnson said.
State Senator Michael McLendon (R-Hernando) praised the school as a model for Mississippi and highlighted the importance of investing in teachers.
“We can’t stop here,” McLendon said. “We need to keep fighting for better pay for our educators, because great schools begin with great teachers.”
A formal congratulatory statement from the Mississippi State Senate recognized the new campus as a symbol of academic excellence and progress for the region.
Uselton shared details of the project’s scope and purpose, explaining how the new school was designed to relieve overcrowding at other local campuses and provide modern learning environments.
“From innovative floor plans to enhanced athletic facilities, everything about this school is built with students in mind,” Uselton said. “We’re proud of what we’ve built—and even more excited about what’s to come.”
The district, with approximately 34,000 students at its more than 40 facilities, will next turn its attention to a new Career Tech Center campus for the eastern part of the district. Uselton said school officials have been working with Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams on plans for a new building that would service the Olive Branch area schools and would also include career-tech students from DeSoto Central, who now attend the west campus in Horn Lake.
