Anthony High School in Princeton is taking shape as a plan for a community whose growing student population is already filling classrooms. The district’s future second senior high school represents a new chapter for families putting down roots in this part of Collin County.
For today’s younger students, a campus planned for 2029 is more than a distant construction date. It is part of the school system they will move through as they grow. That makes the story of Philip Anthony Senior High School closely tied to what is happening in Princeton’s neighborhoods right now.
A Growing District Reaches 12,000 Students
Princeton ISD recently celebrated its 12,000th student. The milestone came when a second grader enrolled at Smith Elementary. The district marked the occasion with its drumline, mascots and a welcome from Superintendent Donald McIntyre.
Behind that celebration is a much larger change. The district reports more than 1,400 new students enrolled since the previous school year began. Its second-grade class alone counted 971 students on the first day of school.
Each new class needs places to learn, practice, perform and build friendships. As those students advance, the demand follows them into middle and high school. Planning Anthony High School in Princeton means looking years beyond the next first day.
Why Anthony High School in Princeton Matters
The district’s February 2026 demographic study puts that challenge in perspective. It records enrollment growth of 4,602 students over four years and forecasts 17,084 students districtwide for 2029–30.
For that same year, the study projects 4,481 high school students. Its existing-campus table lists a combined maximum capacity of 3,600 at Princeton and Lovelady high schools. Those figures illustrate the need for additional space; they do not describe Anthony’s capacity or future attendance assignments.
The accompanying housing map makes the connection visible. Active and future subdivisions spread across the district, showing why school planning reaches beyond any single neighborhood. These enrollment forecasts are planning estimates, rather than guaranteed future totals.
Where Will Anthony High School in Princeton Be Built?
Princeton ISD’s construction plans place Philip Anthony Senior High School on the same property as Harper Elementary. The entrance will face County Road 398, with access to County Road 447. The district projects the first phase opening for the 2029–30 school year.
The architectural rendering offers an early look at the campus, including a broad covered entrance and connected building wings. It gives families a first impression of the planned school, while the final design may change.
The registered project calls for a three-story, 445,000-square-foot high school with parking and an athletics field. Claycomb Associates is the listed architect. The estimated construction cost is $186 million, with work scheduled from March 1, 2027, through July 1, 2029.
Building Toward Princeton’s Next Chapter
The new campus also fits a longer community commitment. In May 2023, voters approved Princeton ISD’s $797 million bond proposal to build eight campuses over ten years. That broader program helps explain how the district is planning for students at several stages of their education.
For families following Anthony High School in Princeton, the most meaningful number may ultimately be the graduating class on a future diploma. Today, the plans mark another step toward providing room for those students—and the school traditions they will create.