Manatee County students may attend different schools next year, officials say
The School District of Manatee County is close to finalizing new attendance zones that will change some students’ schools beginning next academic year.
The new maps for elementary and middle schools will go into effect for the 2026-2027 school year, but the high school map won’t change until the 2027-2028 school year when the district’s newest high school opens.
In February, district administrators began the rezoning process in response to growing enrollment numbers, crowding schools and new developments, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
On Friday, the school board held a workshop to discuss the new attendance zones and the upcoming public input sessions where families can learn about the changes and give input before the maps are finalized for the next school year.
“Today was a long time coming,” Board Member Charlie Kennedy said. “When you’re growing like we are — a lot of these coastal Florida counties are all dealing with this — you’ve got to keep tweaking your maps.”
Total enrollment for the district for this school year — including charter schools — is 56,135 students, which is up from 49,181 students during the 2020-2021 school year, according to a spokesperson from the district.
The School District of Manatee County includes 67 total schools, including 47 traditional public schools, three non-traditional public schools, 16 charter schools and Manatee Technical College.
Kennedy recalled the last time the district went through a comprehensive rezoning was about 10 years ago.
Manatee discusses new school maps
Board Chair Chad Choate III commended administrators on the difficult “balancing act” in the rezoning process, and emphasized the importance of keeping the community informed going forward. Choate also added that freeing up some capacity at schools increases freedom of choice. For example, giving a family better opportunities to send their student to a school with a good band program or International Baccalaureate classes.
“We can’t control development and things like that happening in schools and getting over capacity,” Choate said at the workshop. “I want the public to be aware that … I personally don’t want to see any school where there can be no choice.”
District administrators also informed the board of existing policies that would exempt students from switching schools.
First, a student going into the last year of attendance at a school would not be required to change schools. For example, a rising senior in high school would not be required to change schools for their final year.
Additionally, the sibling of a student in that scenario who attends the same school would be able to stay for one year. There’s also an exemption for students who have previously been rezoned while attending the same school.
In all of these instances, while the students can remain in their schools, the district is not responsible for providing transportation to and from school.
District to offer school choice provisions
Administrators also presented two new provisions to help ease the process of rezoning for families.
“All of this is designed to support stability, minimize disruption to families,” Deputy Superintendent of Instructional Services Derek Jensen said. “We know this can be a very emotional, disruptive process. Our students love their schools … and our families have all kinds of reasons for choosing the schools they choose for their families.”
The first provision is called the Legacy Provision, and it expands existing exemptions by allowing siblings to remain at a school until both finish the highest grade level offered at the school.
“This provision will apply to any student who’s currently enrolled, and their siblings who are also currently enrolled, and those students may remain at their current school even if their zone changes, and they would be able to stay until the highest grade,” Jensen said.
The second is the Founders Provision, and will allow high school students to start at their newly-zoned school next academic year rather than wait for the high school rezoning to go into effect for the 2027-2028 school year.
This provision specifically helps students avoid mid-high school transfers. For example, a student entering high school next year who will need to be rezoned the following year can choose to start at the rezoned school a year early.
“It provides that great opportunity, again, for educational continuity for a student in that particular situation,” Jensen said.
A new high school, named High School AAA pending an official naming, is set to open for ninth and tenth grade students for the 2027-2028 year, which is why the rezoning of high schools is delayed one year.
However, as with the existing exemptions, the proposed provisions would mean families need to find their own methods of transportation if they choose one of the options.
Administrators said the provisions were designed based on feedback they received from the community and to help continuity.
“There were a couple neighborhoods that were concerned about what school and which school they would go to,” Interim Deputy Superintendent of Operations Willie Clark said. “But I think people wanted choices, options to be able to stay at their current school.”
What happens next with Manatee school maps?
Over the next month, school district leaders will be out in the community for public meetings to gather input from families.
The upcoming public meetings are scheduled for:
- 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Braden River High School (6545 State Road 70 E., Bradenton)
- 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 19 at Lakewood Ranch High School (5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch)
- 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 20 at Parrish Community High School (7505 Fort Hamer Road, Parrish)
The district will also publish the new maps and an interactive locator tool on its website on Monday, along with a list of frequently asked questions.
Following the public meetings, the board will review the maps for final approval in December to prepare for the school choice window starting in January.
