School board to decide fate of new high school in Lakewood Ranch

The School District of Manatee County school board members are pondering whether to build a new high school in Lakewood Ranch to keep up with population growth in East County.

High school capacities are measured by the Florida Inventory of School Houses, a data numbering system used by the Florida Department of Education, and Lakewood Ranch High School is over capacity at 105%. The district is in the process of rezoning, but even with rezoning, the population spike is expected to create capacity problems.

Interim superintendent Kevin Chapman said this month will be key to finalizing a construction contract for a potential eighth high school in the district, which is being called High School AAA for the time being. If the board decides to move forward with it, High School AAA would be located on a 100-acre lot on Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, near Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch. It could be open as soon as 2027.

During a workshop on July 29, the school board discussed two different options for how the new high school could be built. Joseph Ranaldi, the deputy superintendent of operations, presented the options.

Image courtesy of School District of Manatee County

Ranaldi described the first option as a “full traditional high school” with baseball, softball and football facilities with bleachers and concession stands. 

Ranaldi said it would be similar to Parrish Community High School in terms of student stations and square footage. The first option would have 1,140 student stations and 205,000 square feet. The first option would cost approximately $149 million. 

The second option for High School AAA brings the budget down to $107 million and the student stations down to 1,000. There would be no auditorium or traditional gymnasium, but those might be added later on. Ranaldi said some type of wellness center would be put in place to utilize some of the larger space. 

The school board members leaned toward the idea of the second option, suggesting the new high school would be focused solely on academics. They are also open to exploring opening it as a charter school.

Derek Jensen, the deputy superintendent of instruction, said not all students and families are looking for a large and comprehensive high school experience.

“As we conceptualize what different models of this high school could look like at different price points, be it Lamborghini or Chevrolet, one of the things we explored was the idea of a strong, collegiate high school.”

Jensen said if they go with the collegiate high school idea, students could earn an AA degree at the same time as graduating from high school, which could produce credit toward higher education degrees.

School Board Member Charlie Kennedy said the idea of a school that is focused solely on academics, not sports and not the arts, is an exciting idea. 

Sharon Scarbrough, executive director of secondary education, said sports might look different if the board decides to go with the second option. 

Scarbrough mentioned golf and tennis as “smaller” sports they might want to offer. Scarbrough also said some students could have the opportunity to participate in sports at other neighboring high schools. 

Ranaldi said there is the potential for a gymnasium to be “snuck into” the plans while staying under budget. 

Image courtesy of School District of Manatee County

If the board decides not to build High School AAA, a classroom addition at Braden River High School would take place. Braden River High currently is over capacity at 103%. An addition would bring its capacity down to 83%. 

Along with adding a classroom at a current grassy area, they would add restrooms in the cafeteria as well. The budget for the addition would be $16.5 million which would add 400 student stations and 24,000 square feet. 

If the board decides to do the Braden River expansion, the idea of High School AAA would not disappear, it would just be pushed back in the five-year plan. Board Member Heather Felton is concerned that if they wait, it could end up costing more money. 

“That concerns me that if we don't go ahead and bite the bullet now, what is that bullet going to look like in three, four years?” Felton said. 

The school board will continue the discussion on the high school during the Aug. 8 workshop.