WASHINGTON — Winter break is still a week off, but students at Ballou High School are anxious for it to be over.

Come January, a shiny new facility with 87 classrooms, bio-technology labs, art spaces and a mechanic training shop will open.

“Man, this place is just the bomb,” Mayor Vince Gray said, looking around the new auditorium.

After all, who could be too cool for school when the school looks like this?

“It’ll make it easier to make the classes longer during the day because folks won’t want to go home,” Gray said. “I’d want to stay here until 10 p.m. at night!”

The new school features a large internal courtyard and community gardens. It will hold about 1,400 students.

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