New Schools, New Zones: Manatee Families Will See Campus Changes in 2026
Some Manatee County families may find their children attending new campuses in the coming years as the School District of Manatee County prepares to open two new elementary schools and implement updated attendance zones for the 2026-27 school year.
The district is moving forward with two major school construction projects in the Parrish area: Rye Ranch Elementary and the Elementary School at Artisan Lakes. Each school is a $75 million investment and is designed as a two-story, 122,500-square-foot campus serving up to 969 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Construction began earlier this year, with both schools expected to open in summer 2026, just in time for the start of the new student assignment zones.
Together, the additions will expand the district’s 47 traditional public schools, which currently include 31 elementary, nine middle, and seven high schools. When combined with charter campuses, the district comprises 67 schools.
Next week, the School Board of Manatee County is scheduled to vote on whether to officially name the Elementary School at Artisan Lakes “Veterans Elementary.” The proposed name aligns with Manatee County Government’s adjacent Valor Commons project, a developing park and veterans’ services hub featuring memorials, walking trails, and support resources for local service members.
District officials say the new schools are necessary to keep pace with rapid growth in north Manatee. Planned neighborhoods are a key factor when determining where schools are built, according to district spokesperson Jamie Carson.
Carson also emphasized the quality of leadership guiding the new campuses. Both principals will begin their roles in spring 2026 to prepare for the schools’ openings.
Laura Tomeo Campbell, a Manatee County native and 2022 Principal of the Year, will lead the Elementary School at Artisan Lakes. Campbell began teaching in 2002 and has served as assistant principal at Bayshore and Freedom elementary schools, as well as principal at Tara Elementary.
At Rye Ranch Elementary, leadership will be headed by Melinda Lundy, a sixth-generation Parrish native who has served as literacy coach, curriculum specialist, assistant principal, and, since 2023, principal of Bayshore Elementary. District officials praised her student-centered leadership and strong roots in the community.
As the district completes its rezoning process, the two new elementary campuses will play a significant role in balancing enrollment. Updated elementary and middle school zones will take effect in 2026-27, while high school attendance zones will shift the following year to coincide with the opening of a new high school in Lakewood Ranch.
Families can review proposed attendance maps and rezoning details on the district’s website, where additional information will continue to be shared as the new campuses near completion.
