Ankeny school district buys land east of Interstate 35 for future growth

The Ankeny Community School District just took a big leap over Interstate 35.

The Business Record first reported Wednesday the district paid West Des Moines-based development firm Hope K Farms $3 million for 40 acres of undeveloped land east of I-35 near the intersection of Northeast 94th Avenue and Northeast 29th Street. This month's purchase will be covered by local option sales tax funds for school infrastructure projects.

No formal plans to build a school are in the works. But "this purchase gives the district flexibility for future planning in an area that has been identified for current and future development," a district spokesperson said in a statement.

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According to district information, the purchase was made because enrollment trends signaled a need for more capacity for elementary and middle school students, the district wanted flexibility for facilities and land use, and the timing was right to secure land in an area that is rapidly expanding.

The Ankeny school district currently has no schools east of Interstate 35, but the district's boundaries go as far east as Northeast 56th Street, and the area has begun to fill in with new developments like the Deer Creek subdivision and the Costco that opened last year. More residential and commercial growth is expected as the east side of Ankeny starts to grow.

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Meanwhile, the district's enrollment has grown by nearly 3,000 students over the past decade to reach 12,700 students, according to state data. Annual growth is expected to slow down but continue in the coming years, with the district projected to add about 100 to 200 students each year.

In May, the school board is expected to vote on a plan that would impact elementary school boundaries and grade-level configuration as officials consider making big changes to the high school experience in Ankeny.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny school district, eyeing growth, buys land east of Interstate 35