As our vibrant Horizon West community continues to growth and flourish, the demand for new relief schools continues to grow along with us! The newest relief school facility under construction by Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is located just about a mile north of Water Spring Elementary School. Found within the Waterleigh community, this school is temporarily referred to as Site 47-E-W-4, and is scheduled to open to students in August 2024.

The architect for the project, Schnekel Shultz Architecture, presented the final design to the community back in April at a public meeting. They shared that the construction budget for the new school is $30M. It is planned to serve 837 students on the 15-acre site.

Like others elementary schools in the Horizon West area, the school will be two stories tall and includes all the aspects you would expect, including first and second floor classrooms, an innovative media center, a STEM lab, a multipurpose space, areas for art, music, physical education, and more. A spacious courtyard with greenery will provide a tranquil outdoor space and the playfields totaling over one acre will allow students ample opportunity to get outdoors.

The site plan shows car drop-off entering from Atwater Bay Drive with room for up to 168 cars. Space for up to 38 buses is also included via the separate bus entrance located off Lost Creek Drive.

OCPS has made sure this facility is designed with sustainable criteria to ensure energy efficiency, use of daylight, water saving measures, and additional “green” features.

Construction is now underway and is expected to take approximately 14 months in total. Teachers should be moving next summer, and students can expect to begin school here in August 2024!

About the Author

Leah is our resident researcher and expert editorial writer for Horizon West Happenings’ Community Engagement Team. When she’s not creating content for the residents of Horizon West, you can find her playing at Disney parks around the world or scoping out the hottest healthy eats and trends in the Orlando area.

Instagram | Facebook