Orange County Unveils Plans for New School in Parramore

Orange County Public Schools, the Rosen Foundation, University of Central Florida, Valencia College and other community partners broke ground on a new Downtown PS8 School in the Parramore neighborhood in Orlando Saturday.

The as-yet unnamed school, which will be built in the southwest quadrant of the Parramore Avenue and Amelia Street intersection, is intended to address the needs of pre-school to middle school students at one campus.

Hotelier Harris Rosen’s Rosen Foundation will fund a quality preschool program for two to three-year-children. The Foundation will also pay to send any Jones High School graduate living in the Parramore neighborhood to a two-year-college, four-year college, or technical or vocational college in Florida.

We’ve seen young lives changed as a result of our program in Tangelo Park,” stated Rosen. “We’re excited about duplicating it in Parramore and getting great results. This is something that should be happening across our country to make education equality a reality.”

“What an incredible blessing for the children and families of Parramore,” declared Orange County School Board Vice Chair and District 5 School Board Member Kathleen “Kat” Gordon, whose district encompasses the Parramore neighborhood. “Having the school right in the neighborhood increases the opportunity for parents to be involved in their children’s education. I’m thrilled for these families and can’t wait for the first day of school,” said Gordon.

The University of Central Florida and Valencia College plan a teacher internship program for their education students. And UCF will provide tuition and fees for a four-year scholarship to the UCF Medical School to any Jones High School graduate who grows up in the Parramore area and meets criteria, including admission to the medical school.

Approved at a budget of $41.3 million, the new school is scheduled to open in August 2017.