New schools on the way in Sarasota

As the more than 46,000 Sarasota County Schools students prepare to return to the classroom for the 2023-2024 school year, the district’s Construction Services Division is busy planning and building four near-term construction projects, three of which will relieve crowding and create capacity for anticipated growth in the southern part of the county.

“I don't think we've ever planned so many new schools all at once,” said Diane Cominotti, the Sarasota County Schools director of planning. “Where all the growth is happening, that’s where we’re trying to build schools.”

Two new schools in Wellen Park will serve every grade with a new K-8 school and a new high school scheduled to open in time for the 2025-26 school year. 

A second K-8 school at Clark and Lorraine roads will open a year earlier, as will the complete rebuild of Garden Elementary School in Venice. That rebuild will absorb the school’s permanent capacity of 482 plus those in 18 portable classrooms, perhaps more.

“Whether or not Garden Elementary is going to take on more capacity than that is too soon to tell,” Cominotti said. “We’re evaluating what's going on in that area to determine if we if we might need to make it bigger.”

New Wellen Park high school

The school will accommodate approximately 2,100 students in grades 9-12 on a 130-acre site between River Road and Englewood Road. It is intended to relieve pressure at Venice High plus accommodate a projected increase of nearly 3,400 future students across all grades from Wellen Park.

• Budget: $155 milllion
• Scope: Classroom space, the project includes an auditorium, media center, gymnasium, cafeteria, full athletic facilities and site work on a compact site located within Wellen Park.
• Capacity: 2,100
• Scheduled to open: August 2025

New K-8 school in Wellen Park

On an adjoining site on River Road with the new high school in Wellen Park, the school will provide relief for Taylor Ranch Elementary School. The school will share a parking lot and bus loops with the new high school.

• Budget: $104 million
• Capacity: 1,500
• Scheduled to open: August 2025

New K-8 school at Clark and Lorraine roads

This new school will relieve overcrowding at existing schools and respond to growth in central county east of Interstate 75. 

• Budget: $84.2 million
• Capacity: 1,500
• Scheduled to open: August 2024

Garden Elementary School rebuild

The Venice elementary school has reached the end of its useful life. A facility assessment study determined the cost to correct deficiencies rendered replacement as a better option than renovation. Built on the same site as the current school, students will continue to use the existing facility until the new school is completed.

• Budget: $40 million
• Scope of work: The school will replace the existing building and 18 portable classrooms located on the campus.
• Capacity: At least 482
• Scheduled to open: 2024