Owyhee High School 

State-of-the-Art high school campus and facilities to serve West Ada School District students and community 

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony August 19, 2021 at 9:00a.m.

3650 N. Owyhee Storm Avenue Meridian, ID 83646 

• Welcome and Pledge of Allegiance - WASD Chief Communication Officer, Char Jackson

• Principal's Message - Cliff Rice, Principal of Owyhee High School

• Mayor's Message - Mayor Simison, City of Meridian

• Trustee's Message - Ed Klopfenstein, WASD Trustee, Zone 1

• Student performances - Owyhee High School Band and Dance

• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Meridian Chamber of Commerce  

• Building tours available post-ceremony

West Ada School District (WASD) began construction on Owyhee High School in May 2019 thanks to the passing of the March 2018 School Bond authorizing WASD to sell $95 million in bonds for the following projects:  a new high school (Owyhee High School), a new elementary school (Pleasant View Elementary), an expansion of Mountain View High School, an expansion of Star Elementary School, an expansion Mary McPherson Elementary School, and the purchase of future school sites. With the exception of purchasing future school sites, these projects have all been completed and Owyhee High School will open its doors to students on August 26, 2021 as the sixth comprehensive high school in West Ada School District.    

Owyhee High School (OHS) is located in the city of Meridian and sits on N. Owyhee Storm Avenue north of Ustick Road, west of McDermott Road.  The construction of this high school will allow for an inaugural student body of almost 1,500 students; relieving overcrowding at Eagle and Rocky Mountain High Schools and absorbing enrollment increases in the Meridian High School attendance area. What used to be a local dairy farm is now home to a state-of-the-art facility that will serve students in grades nine through twelve under the leadership of Principal, Cliff Rice.

Owyhee proudly represents itself and its school pride with the “Storm” mascot.  The high school is excited to offer Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Cheer, Cross Country, Dance, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Lacrosse, Girls Rugby, Girls Soccer, Girls Softball, Golf, Swim, Tennis, Track, Volleyball and Wrestling during its inaugural year.  Activities and Athletics Director Dane Roy has worked diligently since coming on in the spring of 2021 to build the Owyhee High School athletics program.

Owyhee High School teacher Nic Warnecke shared his excitement about being a part of the OHS Family, “Most of the teachers coming to Owyhee have similar reasons for being here.  What many of us are excited for is the potential to help create a school identity for a brand-new school.  We are excited to build an inclusive culture in which students not only excel academically, but love participating in school events and activities together.  We want to show students that together, if you choose to make the most out of it, high school can be the greatest time in your young life.”  Nic will be the Student Council and Leadership Advisor at Owyhee for the 2021-22 school year along with teaching English and Speech and coaching JV Basketball.   

The Owyhee High School campus is a one-of-a-kind experience, bringing together students and families from West Ada School District to build a foundation for generations to come.  The students, faculty, staff and families of West Ada School District deserve a space that lives up to the enormous good they do in our communities and Owyhee High School provides that.  West Ada School District is extremely thankful for the local taxpayers and voters who helped make this dream a reality, creating the next West Ada legacy – the Owyhee Storm.   

Facts and Features of Owyhee High School:

• Principal - Clifford Rice

• Opening date: August 26, 2021

• School Colors: red and anthracite

• Acreage – 60 +/- acres

• Square footage – 246,590 square feet

• Academic Facilities:

  • 65 classrooms

  • 7 special education classrooms

  • 2 science labs

  • 2 computer labs

  • 1 pre-engineering lab

  • 1 small engine lab

  • 1 welding lab

• Special Facilities:

  • 2000 seat competition gymnasium

  • 2 second floor practice gymnasiums

  • Second floor running track

  • Synthetic turf multi-use field with 2700 seating capacity

  • 2 soccer fields

  • Grass practice field

  • 2 baseball fields

  • 2 softball fields

  • 6 post-tensioned concrete tennis courts

  • Second floor media center

  • 828 seat auditorium

  • "The Commons" social center and cafeteria

Those interested in further information about Owyhee High School can stay informed by following the school on social media @owyheestormhs or visiting their school website. 

I am beyond humbled to have the opportunity to be the principal of this amazing school and students at Owyhee High School. I have been in West Ada for 20 years. I started as a teacher at Meridian Academy and then moved over to Mountain View High School when it opened in 2003. At Mountain View High School, I taught for 2 years, became the activities director in 2005, was hired as a vice principal in 2011 and then became principal of MVHS in 2017. I loved my time as a Maverick but couldn't pass up an opportunity to build a school from the ground up. We have assembled an all-star team of admin, teachers and staff that will bring energy and excitement to our classrooms! I look forward to seeing the students flooding into our school on the first day, August 26.