The Newton County community will have the opportunity to tour the new Newton High School at a dedication ceremony this weekend.

The Newton County School System will host an open house for the public starting at 3 p.m. this Sunday, Aug. 25, at the new high school located at 1 Ram Way. A reception and tour will follow the ceremony.

The new Newton High, located between Jack Neely Road and Crowell Road, sits on 117.7 acres and includes a 500-plus-seat auditorium; an open commons area entrance; a gym that can accommodate 2,500 spectators; a practice gym; science labs; and band and chorus classrooms that are connected with rehearsal areas. It also has an ROTC wing that includes office space, classrooms and a rifle range; engineering labs with a covered exterior workroom; and agricultural and art classrooms.

The two-story high school building can hold up to 2,500 students and encompasses more than 380,000 square feet, according to architectural designs from Cunningham, Forehand, Matthews & Moore Architects in Atlanta. It was constructed by McKnight Construction Co. in Augusta for $42.6 million.

Classrooms have ViewPath technology, an integrated audio-video solution that includes classroom cameras and silent alarms, which was piloted at the old NHS last year to enhance school security.

The cost of the new ViewPath system, approved for purchase at a Board of Education meeting in March, was $513,002.

Construction on the new high school began in 2011. The new Newton High opened just in time for the 2013-14 academic year.