Orange County Public Schools will open two new high schools and one elementary school when students return to class on Monday, August 24, 2009.
East River High in the East Learning Community, Lake Nona High in the Southeast Learning Community and Keene’s Crossing Elementary in the West Learning Community were built to ease classroom overcrowding. Lake Nona High will be the temporary home of Lake Nona Middle School while the permanent facility scheduled to open in August 2011 is being built.
“Despite this being a very tough budget year for our school district, we have been able to keep our building program on schedule,” said Superintendent Ronald Blocker. “I am very proud of our employees and building program partners who continue to deliver high quality facilities for less.”
The comprehensive renovation of Robinswood Middle School will be completed in time for the start of the new school year. Six other projects that involve renovation or upgrading of school facilities (Lakeville, Pinewood and Riverdale elementary schools; Discovery, Lee and Lockhart middle schools) will be completed as scheduled before the end of the calendar year. The new facilities and improvements will total more than $260 million.
“When school is out for the summer most people take-off for vacation, but that’s when the district’s building program shifts into high gear,” said Chief Facilities Officer Bob Proie. “Making sure all projects are completed on time and under budget is the number one priority of our building program.”
Meanwhile, as more high schools are built, Florida high school graduation rank is 45th in the nation.
