Manatee School District Advances $197 Million in Summer Construction Projects Across East County
While classrooms sit empty for summer break, the School District of Manatee County is taking advantage of the downtime to push forward nearly $200 million in construction and campus improvement projects designed to meet the area’s growing student population.
District officials say summer provides the best opportunity to complete major work while minimizing disruptions for students and staff. Construction Services Director Reginald Goff said crews accelerate projects during the break to stay on schedule before students return in August.
Among the largest projects is the construction of Rangeland High School, a nearly 300,000-square-foot campus being built on approximately 85 acres at the southwest corner of Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard. The $144 million school broke ground in January and is expected to welcome its first class of about 1,070 ninth- and 10th-grade students in August 2027. Additional grade levels will be added over the following two years.
District officials expect the building to reach the vertical construction stage by the start of the upcoming school year, with classroom walls and the cafeteria taking shape. By July 2027, the classrooms, administration building, media center, gymnasium and cafeteria are expected to be complete, while the auditorium, athletic fields, courts, track and parking areas are scheduled for completion before students arrive the following month.
The new campus follows the design of Parrish Community High School and includes a more than 700-seat auditorium. Plans also include room for future expansion, allowing enrollment to eventually grow to approximately 2,500 students.
Nearby, Lake Manatee K-8 School continues its $17.4 million expansion with the addition of a two-story classroom building and a new gymnasium. Sixth-grade students will begin using the expanded campus this August, with seventh grade opening in 2027 and eighth grade in 2028. Once fully expanded, the campus will accommodate more than 1,800 students.
School officials said that gradually adding grade levels helps create a smoother transition for students and staff rather than opening all middle school grades at once.
Lakewood Ranch High School is also undergoing major infrastructure improvements following concerns about mold in several buildings. A professional mold remediation project costing approximately $1.6 million was completed earlier this year, including replacing air filters throughout the campus.
The district is now preparing for a full replacement of the school’s HVAC system. The first phase includes about $6 million in underground utility work, while approximately $30 million has been allocated for replacing the above-ground mechanical equipment, ductwork and supply systems.
Underground work is already underway while architects and engineers finalize designs for the new system. Officials expect underground construction to finish by fall 2027, with the complete HVAC replacement scheduled for completion in fall 2028.
District leaders say maintaining construction schedules is a top priority. Contracts include contingency funding for unexpected issues and milestone requirements that hold contractors accountable for staying on schedule.
Combined, the projects represent nearly $197 million in construction investments aimed at expanding capacity, modernizing aging infrastructure and preparing Manatee County schools for continued enrollment growth over the next several years.