Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New, State-of-the-Art Buildings at Vista High School

Officials from the Vista Unified School District hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for two new, state-of-the-art buildings at Vista High School.

The event celebrated the completion of a four-year-long project to complete two buildings at the school, providing more than 75,000 square feet of space to the school.

“It makes me so proud to see this beautiful building on the Vista High Campus. This new facility will serve to enhance the already stellar reputation Vista High has for excellence and innovation in education,” said Vista Superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle.

“As a proud graduate of Vista High School, standing here today feels deeply personal,” said VUSD Board Trustee Cipriano Vargas. “Building T isn’t just a structure; it’s a statement of what we believe our students deserve. From modern science labs to classrooms designed for flexibility and innovation, this building reflects the future we’re building together. It honors our roots, like the JROTC and athletics programs that shaped so many of us, while launching the next generation into new heights. To every student who will walk these halls: this investment is for you, because we believe in your potential and your power to lead.”

Building T
Building T is the larger of the two projects, a 46,161 square foot, three-story concrete block classroom building built as a split-level building between the southern end of the stadium and the campus core. The first story will house athletics and JROTC, the second story will house ten modern science classrooms, and the third story will house ten general education classrooms and one large flex-suite.

Building T will also see the installation of a new scoreboard, along with integrated landscape, irrigation, and lighting. A new parking lot has replaced the V-Wing relocatable classrooms.

Building S
Building S, which opened in 2024, is a 30,110 square foot, two-story concrete block classroom building that replaced the school’s “S” wing, which sits at the front of the campus. Building S consists of 18 classrooms, one large flex-suite, a 1,200 square foot shaded outdoor learning area, along with all new landscape, irrigation, and lighting.

Building S was the first to open and houses the school’s English department, and also includes spaces for several special education classes. The decision to have the English department in the new building was intentional. “Every Vista High student takes English in each of their four years,” explains VHS Principal Megan Ratliff. “So this way, every student can experience and enjoy the new structure. We wanted to have our entire community included, and this was the way to do that.”

The new classrooms are equipped with the latest sound and dimmer lighting technology, allowing teachers to create a variety of learning environments. The spaces also include a plentiful number of outlets for charging devices like Chromebooks, as well as wrap-around whiteboards designed to help students project presentations more effectively.

Measure LL Bond Project
Funded through the district’s Measure LL Facilities Bond, the new buildings were completed at a cost of $57,837,353.37, comprising nearly 24% of the Measure LL Bond. Construction began in August 2021.

The bond has funded improvement and modernization projects at more than a dozen of the district’s schools, including the ongoing construction of a new building and campus for Bobier Elementary School, the new Career Technical Education (CTE) building at Rancho Buena Vista High School, and a new ADA compliant entrance and gathering spaces at Vista Magnet Middle School.

The projects are part of a broader commitment to upgrade and modernize the learning environments across the district. From updating critical infrastructure to building new buildings and learning spaces, the district is showcasing its vision and leadership.

“With this ribbon cutting, we celebrate how far we have come to provide the world-class learning environment our students, teachers, and community deserve,” says Assistant Superintendent, Business and Operations Support Services, Dr. Shawn Loescher. “We also take this as an opportunity to reflect on the work that lies ahead as we seek to provide similar improvements throughout the District.”