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East County | Schools

Layla Lockhart, a fourth grader at Myakka City Elementary School, holds her chicken, Rocket, so the chicken can get accustomed to being held.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 7, 2022
Myakka City Elementary students prepare to show at the Manatee County Fair

Future Farmers of America and 4-H students will show animals and plants at the fair.

  • East County
  • Schools
Seventh grader Alex Berndt and eighth grader Ryan Beck chose to make natural jewelry for their iInnovate Day project.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • January 6, 2022
ODA students explore their passions through day of innovation in Lakewood Ranch

Middle school students get a chance to create their own products at iInnovate Day.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School students will have new classrooms when an addition is built on the campus. The addition will have 10 classrooms, adding 220 student stations. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 27, 2021
East Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch area schools prepare for population growth

School District of Manatee County, private and speciality schools plan expansions and new schools.

  • East County
  • Schools
Santa collected the mail and headed toward the Lakewood Ranch area.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 24, 2021
Dear Santa, don't forget Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton area

Lakewood Ranch and east Bradenton area students send their Christmas wishes to Santa.

  • East County
  • Schools
Declan Hudson, an All-American cheerleader from Braden River High School, is thrilled to visit Hawaii for the first time to honor veterans. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 20, 2021
Braden River High cheerleader performs in 80th anniversary Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade

After being named an All-American Cheerleader, Declan Hudson participated in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy will be located on White Eagle Boulevard near Rangeland Parkway.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 16, 2021
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy finds a home

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy, a future K-12 charter school, will be located on White Eagle Boulevard.

  • East County
  • Schools
Kari Keech-Babcock, a guidance clerk at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been named a finalist for School District of Manatee County's Support Employee of the Year.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 9, 2021
Lakewood Ranch High School guidance clerk finalist for Support Employee of the Year

After unusual introduction to Lakewood Ranch High, Kari Keech-Babcock provides sweet service to school's community.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fiorella Recchioni and Sarah Douglas, seniors at Braden River High School, start wrapping shoe boxes that will be put in classrooms as donation boxes.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • December 7, 2021
Braden River High School takes on Operation Santa in Lakewood Ranch

Several Braden River High clubs and organizations are working to help families in need through Operation Santa.

  • East County
  • Schools
Members of the Braden River High School JROTC Raiders team celebrate their success at the state competition.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 23, 2021
Braden River High JROTC Raiders team wins state title

The Pirates earn a 13th state championship in the Raiders competition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School eighth grader Isabella Castro-Cardona, seventh grader Alyssa Babyak and eighth grader Kaleb Guy spend time reading. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 23, 2021
School choice opens for School District of Manatee County

School district will no longer provide transportation for school choice students.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ava Filewich and Alana Gillis, who are members of the Lakewood Ranch High band, march in the band's semifinals performance.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 22, 2021
Lakewood Ranch, Braden River, Parrish high school marching bands finish season on bittersweet note

No trophies, but east Bradenton high school marching bands produce sweet final performances.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River High School's Logan Ranke, Cara Bailey and Makayla Clary do their best during a competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 18, 2021
East Bradenton high school bands prepare for state competition

Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Community high school bands work to perfect their routines before the state competition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Fourth grader London Jones and Susan Smucker, the WOZ Ed coordinator for the School District of Manatee County, watch as Jones slowly moves the drone he's controlling around the room.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 17, 2021
Bradenton's Bashaw Elementary enhances its STEAM program

Students at Bradenton's Bashaw Elementary will learn about drones, 3D printers, robotics and more through WOZ Ed kits.

  • East County
  • Schools
Michael Koczersut and Ronald Alvarez, who are students in the Manatee Technical College EMT program, have been able to sharpen their skills using the new ambulance simulator.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2021
New ambulance simulator prepares Manatee Technical College EMT students

EMT students at MTC can practice emergency scenarios using the new ambulance simulator.

  • East County
  • Schools
Samantha Flores and Kyle Vaske play with the front ensemble during the Pride of Parrish Marching Band's performance of its show Flourish. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2021
Parrish Community High marching band kicks off inaugural season

Pride of Parrish Marching Band sees success in its first year of high school competition.

  • East County
  • Schools
Maureen Geary, a third grade teacher at Myakka City Elementary School, teachers a vocabulary lesson to Katherine Millan-Pureco and America Carranza-Vazquez. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 10, 2021
School Board of Manatee County looks to future to address salaries

School Board members say they want to start moving funds for teacher salaries from the 1-mill property tax into the operating budget.

  • East County
  • Schools
The School Board of Manatee County is working on a proposed map of new district lines.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 10, 2021
School Board of Manatee County discusses redistricting

School board members drawing up new zones for districts.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cynthia Saunders, the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, and Charlie Kennedy, the chair of the School Board of Manatee County, celebrate the renewal of the district's 1-mill property tax referendum.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 2, 2021
Manatee County voters approve continuation of school district's 1-mill property tax

The School District of Manatee County's 1-mill property tax referendum passes with 69.27% of the vote.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 21, 2021
Braden River Elementary rocks the school day in Lakewood Ranch

Rock Our School Day at Braden River Elementary gives students an opportunity to leave their mark on campus.

  • East County
  • Schools
Debra Otey has been named the new head of school for Out-of-Door Academy. She will begin serving in the position July 1, 2022. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 20, 2021
Out-of-Door Academy names new head of school

Debra Otey will lead ODA beginning July 1, 2022.

  • East County
  • Schools
Brooke Sollie, a fifth grader at Myakka City Elementary School, will show Clementine at the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 20, 2021
Myakka City Elementary starts agriculture science program

New barn at Myakka City Elementary provides hands-on experiences.

  • East County
  • Schools
Charlie Kennedy, a member of the School Board of Manatee County, debates Bradenton's Garin Hoover when the School District of Manatee County's 1-mill property tax referendum was being voted on in 2018. File photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 13, 2021
Some Manatee County residents ready to oppose school district's tax referendum

Opposition says taxpayers will enable wasteful school district by approving referendum.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sam Leavy, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School is named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 11, 2021
Two east Bradenton students named National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists

Students at Braden River and Lakewood Ranch high schools named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

  • East County
  • Schools
Maureen Geary, a third grade teacher at Myakka City Elementary School, teachers a vocabulary lesson to Katherine Millan-Pureco and America Carranza-Vazquez. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 6, 2021
Manatee schools see decrease in COVID-19 cases

Even with dropping COVID numbers, district schools will continue protocols.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 1, 2021
Lakewood Ranch elementary school celebrates International Peace Day

McNeal Elementary students and staff create a peace train to show what peace means to them.

  • East County
  • Schools
Senior JT Wright, junior Ty Moore, junior Jackie Sanchez and senior Liam Tvenstrup dress as pirates, which is the school's mascot, to bring team spirit to bootcamp.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 29, 2021
Braden River High TSA chapter hosts bootcamp

Braden River's Technology Student Association bootcamp helps its members form bonds.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 24, 2021
Braden River High School brings magic to the stage in east Bradenton

Student-led Night of Magic cabaret show leads to children singing and dancing along.

  • East County
  • Schools
Carlos E. Haile Middle School eighth grader Isabella Castro-Cardona, seventh grader Alyssa Babyak and eighth grader Kaleb Guy spend time reading. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 23, 2021
New All Access Pass allows students to reach Manatee County public library resources

School District of Manatee County students can access Manatee County library resources from home through All Access Pass.

  • East County
  • Schools
R. Dan Nolan Middle School eighth graders Payton Gee and Alexa Dziubek talk to Pam Rahn, a pre-medical program teacher, about what they've learned by using the Anatomage Table.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 22, 2021
Manatee School District 1-mill property tax provides funding for hands-on learning in STEM

East County teachers say equipment they've purchased with the additional millage ignites students' passion.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School fifth and fourth graders work work together to donate 57 bags filled with clothing, stuffed animals and blankets to Afghan children who are refugees. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 21, 2021
McNeal Elementary students collect donations for Afghan refugees

McNeal Elementary students work together to collect blankets, stuffed animals and clothing for Afghan refugees.

  • East County
  • Schools
Tiffany McCoy, a junior, and Maya Lander, a senior, are careful while twirling batons that are on fire. Lander says she gets nervous at first, but it doesn't take longer for her to get used to the fire.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 16, 2021
Lakewood Ranch High baton twirlers keep tradition going

Lakewood Ranch High twirlers add a unique spin to their performance.

  • East County
  • Schools
Braden River's John Thomas Wright, Thomas Adamson and Gabe French perform with the Marching Band of Pirates during halftime.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 15, 2021
Manatee School District adds visual and performing arts to millage allocations

If 1-mill ad valorem property tax is renewed, arts programs will be bolstered.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lemeki, a 3-year-old elephant with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, was found abandoned in Kenya as a result of flooding. Photo courtesy and copyright of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 9, 2021
Lakewood Ranch fifth graders adopt an elephant

McNeal Elementary fifth graders address the elephant in the room.

  • East County
  • Schools
Patty Haeussler, a social studies teacher at Lakewood Ranch High School, was named a Social Studies Teacher of the Year by Florida Council for the Social Studies. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 9, 2021
Lakewood Ranch High social studies teacher earns recognition for her passion.

Patty Haeussler was named Social Studies Teacher of the Year by Florida Council for the Social Studies.

  • East County
  • Schools
Mark Speciner, a social studies teacher at Booker High School, has his mother, Lila Speciner, share her experiences of being in the World Trade Center during the attacks on 9/11 as an introduction to his lessons about Sept. 11.
  • By Liz Ramos and Brynn Mechem
  • September 9, 2021
9.11 Remembered: Teachers change how they approach history of attacks

Twenty years later, teachers are finding themselves teaching students who weren't alive on Sept. 11

  • East County
  • News
Construction continues on the addition at Braden River Middle School.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • September 1, 2021
Growth in the Lakewood Ranch-area leads to more school construction

Renovations planned for seven Lakewood Ranch-area schools, along with a new school.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Latest in East County

1
The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club Butterfly Symposium will take place at 9 a.m. on Feb. 7 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • February 4, 2026
Butterfly symposium lands at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
2
Braden River boys basketball has clinched its first 20-win season since 2011-12, and won eight games in a row to close out the regular season.
  • February 4, 2026
Braden River High boys basketball team turns the tides with teamwork
3
Sisterhood for Good members Nikki Pelier-Simon, Samina Morrow and Allison Adams show off some fashions that will be in the spotlight at Tropical Escape July 27 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
  • February 4, 2026
Lakewood Ranch fundraiser is a hula for moolah
4
Thundercloud Ranch is one of two conservation easements Manatee County purchased Jan. 27.
  • February 4, 2026
Manatee County purchases two easements, conserves nearly 1,500 acres
5
Village Idiots Cycling Club member Patrick Franklin Sr. (center) was killed riding his bicycle Jan. 22 when hit by a truck pulling a trailer on Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
  • February 4, 2026
Building safer roads for cyclists worth a discussion in Manatee County

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