Rutherford County Schools is preparing to officially open a large expansion at Oakland High School this weekend. The district will host a ribbon-cutting celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The entire renovation project cost $61 million and added over 100,000 square feet to the campus. 

One of the key upgrades connects the main building and the annex, which officials say improves security.  The expansion also includes over twenty new classrooms as well as a 740-seat auditorium to serve students and events. 

The improvement project also focused on specialized programs. The district renovated or expanded facilities for music and culinary arts.  In addition, a new BioSTEM lab was added, intended to provide students with hands-on biotechnology experiences at a level similar to university coursework. 

School and district leaders say these enhancements are meant to offer richer educational opportunities, support student growth, and reflect the community’s commitment to investing in its schools. With modernized spaces and more capacity, the high school is better equipped to serve current and future needs.