Manatee County School District Unveils Aggressive Plan to Build Five New Schools by 2027
In response to rapid development and growing overcrowded classrooms, the School District of Manatee County has announced an ambitious plan to build five new schools by 2027. Superintendent Jason Wysong, calling the project “aggressive and exciting,” presented the strategy during a recent School Board workshop. The district aims to alleviate the burden on overcrowded schools while accommodating increasing student populations, particularly in the fast-growing eastern part of the county.
The plan outlines the construction of a K-8 school and a middle school by August 2025, followed by two elementary schools in 2026 and a new high school in 2027. This includes the district's first K-8 school built entirely from the ground up. The yet-to-be-named school will be located east of Uihlein Road near State Road 64. This new campus will feature a two-story elementary wing, a single-story middle school, and space for up to 1,620 students. It is expected to help reduce the high enrollment numbers at Gullett Elementary School, where families have been drawn to the strong school culture.
Gullett Elementary principal Todd Richardson will lead the new K-8 school. Over the past eight years, Gullett’s student population has surged from 800 to 1,400 students, and the new school will provide much-needed relief. Priority for enrollment at the new school will be given to students from Gullett Elementary, those who were reassigned to other schools, and those living nearby. Richardson emphasized the unique opportunity of overseeing students' academic journey from preschool through middle school, calling it a tremendous chance to positively impact the students and their families.
The district also plans to expand Harvey Elementary into another K-8 school, located west of Fort Hamer Road near Moccasin Wallow Road. This expanded campus will include a pre-K to 3rd grade section and a separate 4th to 8th grade section, accommodating 1,268 students. The new facility will ease overcrowding at both Harvey Elementary and Buffalo Creek Middle. The expanded K-8 campus, set to open its doors in August 2025, will gradually introduce grades 4-8, beginning with fourth, fifth, and sixth grades.
Harvey Elementary principal Hayley Rio will continue to lead the newly expanded K-8 campus. Rio described the shift as a positive transformation for the school community, providing an exciting opportunity for families and students. Initially, the district had proposed moving fourth and fifth graders to another school, but the new K-8 model was ultimately seen as a more favorable solution.
As the district moves forward with these projects, school boundaries will be redrawn for the 2026-2027 school year to reflect the new schools' opening and accommodate student placement.
School Board members have expressed optimism that this plan will ease the strain of overcrowded schools while keeping up with the rapid pace of development in the area. While acknowledging that relocating students can be a challenge, board members stress that these new schools will ultimately provide a better learning environment for students.