Knox County Schools is looking at these three options for a new Farragut school

To keep up with growth in West Knox County, administrators at Knox County Schools are looking to build a new school in the Farragut area, and they're offering three options to alleviate overcrowding.

For years, the community has heard plans for a new elementary school in the area, but district administrators are now pitching alternate plans.

The district uses portable classrooms in three of the four Farragut schools and has dealt with traffic congestion complaints, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Garfield Adams told the Knox County school board Oct. 26. The new school should help.

Earlier this month, the board agreed to buy 41 acres at Boring Road and Kingston Pike for nearly $5 million. The district considered 24 properties before making its final pick. Three of those properties were found to be unsuitable, according to Knox County Schools spokesperson Carly Harrington.

Whatever option is selected, the tentative construction timeline is 2025-26, with the school opening for the 2026-27 school year.

What are the three options proposed for the new Farragut school?

Option 1: A new elementary school for 1,200 students

• The existing schools ‒ primary, intermediate, middle and high ‒ would remain in place and overcrowding and traffic congestion at the middle and high schools would not be resolved with this option.

• At an estimated cost of $42.6 million, this is the least expensive approach. This does not include cost for renovating other schools or removing portable classrooms.

• This would provide direct relief to overcrowding at Farragut primary and intermediate schools.

• It would require rezoning for the existing elementary schools.

Option 2: A new middle school and an elementary/freshman academy for 1,600 students

• The project would cost $66.8 million, not including any renovations.

• The existing primary school would be converted into a K-5 elementary school for 706 students.

• The existing intermediate school and two-thirds of the middle school would be expanded into a K-5 elementary school to serve 1,400 students, making it the largest elementary school in the district.

• The remaining one-third of the existing middle school would be renovated into a freshman academy for 500 students.

• The existing high school would become a grade 10-12 high school for 1,916 students.

• The district expects this solution would provide "a long-term, comprehensive solution for all Farragut schools," Adams said. But,it's expected to be a longer process and, like option one, also would require rezoning elementary schools.

Option 3: A new elementary school and a middle/freshman academy for 1,400 students

• This project is expected to cost $48.3 million, not including renovations.

• The existing primary school would be converted into a K-5 elementary school for 706 students.

• The existing intermediate school would be converted into a freshman academy for 500 students. The existing middle school would remain unchanged.

• The existing high school would become a grade 10-12 school for 1,916 students.

• This option is expected to provide a long-term solution for elementary and high schools, but also would involve a longer process and require rezoning elementary schools.

How can community members voice their opinions on the three options?

The district will be conducting community listening sessions before coming back to the board in January with a recommendation. Here are the details about the sessions for community input:

1. 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Farragut High School, 11237 Kingston Pike

2. 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at Farragut Primary School, 509 N. Campbell Station Road

3. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Farragut Middle School, 200 West End Ave.

How overcrowded are Farragut schools?

1. Farragut Primary School enrollment: 1,004. Capacity, including portable classrooms: 931

2. Farragut Intermediate School enrollment: 850. Capacity, including portable classrooms: 1,047

3. Farragut Middle School enrollment: 1,519 students. Capacity, including portable classrooms: 1,402

4. Farragut High School enrollment: 2,137 students. Capacity, including portable classrooms: 2,100

Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at areena.arora@knoxnews.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AreenaArora.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Schools has three options for a new Farragut school