New K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch has a name

The new K-8 school being constructed at Uihlein Road and Academic Avenue has a name.

The School Board of Manatee County unanimously voted to name the school Lake Manatee K-8 during a special meeting Oct. 29. 

After giving the community six days to provide comments on the top four final names, the board saw most people were in favor of Lake Manatee. 

Lake Manatee K-8 will open its elementary portion in August 2025 followed by the middle school in August 2026. 

The school will be the first K-8 school built from the ground up for the School District of Manatee County, and it will have 1,620 student stations.