TAMPA, Fla. — A new middle school is taking shape in one of the fastest-growing areas of Hillsborough County as the school district works to keep up with residential growth in Wimauma.
The Hillsborough County School Board is expected to select a permanent name for the new campus Tuesday. The three finalists are Dr. Sylvia Cantrell Albritton, Kenneth Otero and Christopher Hartwell Davis.
The school is under construction on West Lake Drive and is scheduled to open in August 2027. It will serve students in grades six through eight.
While some schools in southern Hillsborough County have experienced declining enrollment, Wimauma has continued to see student growth, prompting the district to add capacity in the area.
District officials say the new campus will offer more than a traditional middle school experience. Students are expected to have access to accelerated academic programs, opportunities to earn high school credit, industry certifications, clubs, and sports.
The goal is to create a pathway into nearby Aquilla J. Morgan High School while giving students opportunities to begin earning credits and exploring potential careers before reaching high school.
The growth in Wimauma comes as Hillsborough County Public Schools continues to see an overall decline in enrollment.
The district is down just over 2,500 students compared with its spring enrollment, according to the district. While that represents a decline, it is smaller than the losses Hillsborough schools has experienced in some recent years.
The district has lost as many as 13,000 students in recent years, with school choice playing a significant role.
Some students have enrolled in Florida Virtual School and other educational options, contributing to the districtwide decline.
The new Wimauma middle school represents a different challenge for the district: adding classroom space in an area where residential development and student enrollment are continuing to grow.
The school board’s vote Tuesday is expected to make one of the three proposed names official.