Where will the next new schools be in Palm Beach County? A look at the next 7 years
The start of the 2023-24 school year was more exciting than usual because it brought the opening of two new schools in Palm Beach County.
Both West Boynton Middle School and Dr. Joaquín García High School are expected to relieve crowding in nearby schools.
Meanwhile, parents and students keeping a close eye on crowding in schools in other parts of the county are asking, "Where are the next new schools going to be in Palm Beach County?"
Each year, the School District of Palm Beach County updates its multi-year capital plan to build campuses that will address school crowding and new home construction. School board members approved the most recent version on Sept. 6.
Changes to the plan are possible based on community growth and student enrollment. The current version does not include addresses for new campuses. Instead, it refers to schools by the part of the county where the school will be. Naming committees choose the schools' official titles once the campuses are built.
A look inside: 'All for the students:' A look inside Palm Beach County's new Dr. García High
Here's what to know about the new schools planned for Palm Beach County:
Elementary school in west Acreage area serving Arden
Opening: Fall 2025
Nearby: Binks Forest, Loxahatchee Groves and Frontier elementaries
A new elementary school west of The Acreage was originally supposed to open in August 2027, but school district officials moved the construction timeline up, expecting more growth in the area.
The Acreage is not an incorporated municipality, but it has a population of just over 40,000 people, making it about the size of Lake Worth Beach and Greenacres. The school is planned for the Arden community, which is just west of The Acreage near the 20 Mile Bend. Arden will one day have more than 2,000 homes, according to its site plan.
"I know the community of Arden is so excited that we've moved that school up. It's growing and growing and growing there, and they need a school," school board member Marcia Andrews said at a September board meeting.
Elementary school in Palm Beach Gardens possibly serving Alton, Avenir
Opening: Fall 2027
Nearby: Beacon Cove and Marsh Pointe elementaries
The "Scripps/Gardens area" school will likely be near Donald Ross Road and serve students in and around Palm Beach Gardens.
The area east of Interstate 95 and south of Donald Ross is home to a 930-home development named Alton, which is nearly complete and markets itself to young families.
Far west of the interstate, Gardens is growing in the form of Avenir, a 3,900-home community created by different builders with their own site plans. The development will include a small hospital and medical offices, a grocery store and pharmacy, a golf course and a clubhouse.
Somerset Academy has already announced plans to build a 600-student charter school in the Avenir area west of Beeline Highway. Charter schools are public schools operated by private entities.
25th county high school near the western communities including Avenir
Opening: Fall 2028
Nearby: Seminole Ridge and Wellington high schools
Fresh off building its 24th high school on Lyons Road west of Lake Worth Beach, the school district has set its sights on constructing its 25th high school in the western communities.
The school district owns land, likely for the new school, at the western end of Northlake Boulevard — about six miles northwest of Seminole Ridge High. It sits just east of the County Pines Recreational Complex at Samuel Friedland Park.
The high school will likely serve students from Avenir, The Acreage and Loxahatchee.
K-8 school in Delray Beach
Opening: Fall 2030
Nearby: S.D. Spady, Banyan Creek Pine Grove, Orchard View and Morikami Park elementaries
The school district has released few details about where the new school will be in Delray Beach because the opening date is so far in the future.
The district has three other K-8 public schools right now: Hidden Oaks west of Lantana, North Grade in Lake Worth Beach and Verde in Boca Raton.
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Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work, subscribe today!
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: New schools planned near Arden, Alton and Avenir in Palm Beach County
