Prairie high school has opened up their campus to a new building for battleground virtual academy. Planned to be finished in the early days of 2026 . funded by the impact fees of new home builders. 

 Prairie High School is set to welcome the Battle Ground Virtual Academy (BGVA) to it’s campus, a move aimed at expanding educational opportunities within the district. It will be located in the front area of the school. Principal Stephanie Watts expects minimal disruption to Prairie High School students, stating, “It shouldn’t impact us at all because it’s a virtual academy, so they’ll have parking at that location.” The expected completion date is around the end of February.

The decision to establish a separate location for BGVA is from the growing demand for alternative learning environments. “Battleground Virtual Academy’s current location is on the same campus as River Home Link, which has led to overcrowding. By providing BGVA with its own building, “Battleground Virtual Academy could grow, and River Home Link could grow,” the director of secretary Travis Drake said. Addressing the waitlist of approximately 90 students at River Home Link, the largest parent-partnered program in the state. The project’s approval was given by the school board two years ago, marking a significant step toward accommodating diverse educational needs.

While the primary focus is to support the virtual academy and River Home Link, there is potential for positive impacts on Prairie High School students as well. Watts suggests that, “It might be easier for a student who’s struggling to access Battle Ground Virtual Academy.” This proximity could offer a convenient alternative for students seeking online courses, though Drake cautions that “it’s not going to be a completely open door for Prairie students,” emphasizing the need for careful consideration and guidance..

Financially, the construction of the new BGVA building is being entirely funded through impact fees. Drake clarified that, “100% of the costs come out of impact fees, which are collected from developers for every new home built in the school district.” This funding mechanism ensures that the project does not draw from the school district’s general funds.