MARYSVILLE – While Marysville and Arlington public schools are trying to get funding for new buildings Feb. 11, private Grace Academy opened one Friday.

The $6 million, two-story addition to its secondary school building includes seven classrooms, one a state of the art science lab. It also includes a spacious cafeteria for all grades so students no longer will have to eat in the gym.

Classes will start this week.

The school, which has 330 students, can handle even more with the addition.

“We’re thrilled. It took a long time to get here,” pastor John Zimmer said, thanking Gaffney Construction of Everett for its great work. Zimmer said the schools is preparing its graduates for college and the trades.

“And our academic testing is through the roof,” he said.

The Activity Center, the official name of the existing building, already houses a gym, locker rooms, a performance stage, a commercial kitchen, and seven classrooms. Grace Academy has served the area since 1977 offering education to students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. School administrator Timothy Lugg thanked all the donors, large and small.

“For many its was painful giving,” he said. “It’s a calling to be able to give. They gave what they had.”

Lugg said the lab was one of the main reasons for the expansion, and, “We finally have a real cafeteria.”