The first day is in the books.

Thousands of kids across the Brazos Valley made their way back to school Monday. For a group of students in College Station, Monday was the not only their first day back at school, but their first day in a new high school.

"I think it's going to be a good year," says freshman David Ornelas.

He echoed what a lot of students felt the first morning of classes at the new high school off Barron Road in College Station.

For some College Station freshman and sophomores, it was the first of many things at the new College Station High School.

The newest campus in College Station cost well over $100 million dollars to build, but finished under budget by two million dollars.

School officials know it's not the building that makes a school.

"It's nice to have a beautiful facility, but a great school is not defined by the bricks and mortar," explains CSHS Principal Mike Martindale.

"It's the faculty, staff, parents, kids, a collective group and the support of the community all of which I believe we have that makes this a great school," he continued.

"I'm very excited about being a part of this school," smiles sophomore Megan Barrett.

She and other students are still adjusting to the new building.

"It was pretty confusing. I was lost most of the way until someone told me where I was going," laughs Barrett.

Confusion aside, students say they are looking forward making traditions for all other classes to follow.

School districts all across the Brazos Valley are seeing growth. In the College Station Independent School District alone, 11,000 students are expected to start hitting the books.