MINNEOLA, Fla. – As Lake County continues to grow, Lake County Schools continues to make plans for new schools.
On Tuesday, the school district along with officials from the City of Minneola, Lake County and Wharton-Smith, broke ground on a new K-8 school coming to Minneola.
Lake County School Board Chair Mollie Cunningham said there is a great need for the new school.
“We have lots and lots of people, lots and lots of schools, and it is steadily growing,” Cunningham said. “We’re just really excited that we’re able to be able to provide this school.”
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The new school will house 1,200 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. The school will also have a similar design and similar size to the recently constructed Aurelia M. Cole Academy and Lake Pointe Academy. District officials said the new school will also be able to help with overcrowding at nearby Grassy Lake Elementary.
According to the district, Grassy Lake is about 400 students over capacity with 20 relocatable units on the campus to provide additional space.
“When schools are overcrowded it stresses the teachers, it stresses the students and the community,” Cunningham said. “Being a former principal, I fully understand the stress that goes into when there are too many children and not enough space.”
The school’s construction will be funded by impact fees from residential development.
The new school does not have a name yet, for right now it is being referred to as “Minneola Area Relief K-8 FF.” However, the district said the community will be involved in the naming process.
The school is expected to open in fall 2025.
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