BENTONVILLE — State officials announced Wednesday the state will provide about $15 million toward the cost of a second high school if Bentonville voters agree to pay for the rest of it.

The exact amount the state will pay is unclear because that $15 million figure is based on a high school for 2,500 students, Superintendent Michael Poore said. The School Board is concentrating on building a school with a capacity of 2,250 students.

“I think it’s safe to say we’ll get above $13 million,” Poore said.

The money would come through the Arkansas Department of Education’s Academic Facilities Partnership Program, which helps pay for various building projects across the state.

Projects needed to provide a warm, safe and dry learning environment are given first priority. Projects proposed because of a need for space — such as Bentonville’s second high school — are considered second.

The state ranks proposals based on each district’s wealth index, facility conditions and the district’s growth rate over the past 10 years.

Bentonville’s growth rate ranked No. 1 in the state among districts that applied for state money, according to Charles Stein, director of school facilities for the Department of Education. Its facility conditions ranked No. 20 and its wealth ranking was No. 67, Stein said.

The state had $130 million to distribute this year for qualifying projects. It will pay for 141 “warm, safe and dry” projects and 36 projects needed for space, Stein said.

Bentonville must break ground on the second high school by October 2014 in order to receive the state money.

First the district must earn voter approval of a tax increase. A vote on a second high school is expected to be held some time this fall.

The district pursued a millage increase last year that would have raised about $130 million, primarily for a second high school. Voters rejected that proposal. The district did not have the promise of state money for that millage attempt.

The School Board likely will present voters a much cheaper option on the ballot this year. The pledge of state money will help “tremendously,” said Travis Riggs, board president.

“We didn’t have that luxury last year,” Riggs said. “We thought we might get (state money), but we didn’t have the luxury of knowing. Now we know.”

The board is still working on details of what the second high school would look like and where it would be located. That discussion will continue during a board work session at 5:30 p.m. today at the district administration center.

Architects have estimated the construction cost for a school with a 2,250-student capacity and a certain set of amenities at $73 million.