Manatee County’s newest high school campus is coming soon. Here’s what to know

After earning approval from Manatee County commissioners, the School District of Manatee County are set to begin construction on a new high school.

Currently unnamed, “AAA High School” will be built on 85 acres of land in east Manatee County near Premier Sports Campus, creating a nearly 300,000-square-foot high school.

District officials told commissioners on Tuesday that the new high school will alleviate capacity issues at other district high schools like Lakewood Ranch High School. The school district is also in the process of rezoning their schools to address capacity issues.

The new attendance zone maps for district high schools will go into effect for the 2027 school year, when the new high school will open for ninth and 10th grade students. The district plans to phase the high school’s opening so it will be fully-open by 2029.

The campus will be located at the southwest intersection of Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard, also near Lorraine Road. County commissioners cited safety and traffic concerns as the reason behind some opposition, leading to a 4-3 vote approving the site plan on Tuesday.

Though the school is currently unnamed, a spokesperson for the school district said the district will seek “extensive” community engagement before the school board selects the name. The district plans to start this process around this time next year, according to the spokesperson.

New high school planned in Manatee

AAA High School will become the district’s eighth public high school, adding to the total of 67 public and charter schools.

Here are some facts about the upcoming high school:

• The construction budget is set at $182,000,000
• The campus will span 85 acres in east Manatee County
• The 297,300-square-foot facility will recycle the design of Parrish Community High School 
• The high school will accommodate 2,500 students
• The design incorporates two collegiate-style open classroom lecture halls 
• There will be over 900 parking spaces for staff, students, visitors and use of sports facilities 
• Main academic areas include an auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, media canter, administration building and three classroom buildings 
• The school will include courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis and a football stadium
• There will also be fields for baseball, softball and soccer
• Planned opening date: August 2027

Carter Weinhofer

Bradenton Herald

Carter Weinhofer is the Bradenton Herald’s Accountability Reporter. He covers politics, development and other local issues. Carter’s work has received recognition from the Florida Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Florida Society of News Editors. He graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.