{"id":321600,"date":"2026-06-27T08:01:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T08:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/321600\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T08:01:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T08:01:13","slug":"central-florida-prep-prepares-to-open-24000-square-foot-athletic-and-performing-arts-center-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/321600\/","title":{"rendered":"Central Florida Prep prepares to open\u00a024,000-square-foot\u00a0athletic and performing arts center\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years, leaders at Central Florida Preparatory School have envisioned a gymnasium and performing arts venue of their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This fall, that vision will become reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Central Florida Preparatory School is preparing to open the Robert A. Flanders Athletic and Performing Arts Center, a 24,000-square-foot facility that school leaders say will expand academic, athletic,\u00a0and enrichment opportunities for students while honoring the legacy of the school\u2019s founder.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The center is named for Robert A. Flanders, who founded the school with his wife in 1990. According to Najera, her father was an educator with a passion for helping students who learn differently and finding the best ways to meet their individual needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always worked really hard as a family to keep his vision alive and continue to grow our school,\u201d said Julia Najera, director of Central Florida Prep. \u201cBuilding this facility allows us to open the door for more students and build our enrichment and athletic program.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The facility, scheduled to open for the 2026-27 school year, includes an 11,000-square-foot gymnasium, 11 classrooms, dedicated culinary and visual arts spaces,\u00a0and\u00a0a video production room.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The gymnasium features upgraded technology, scoreboards, enhanced bleacher\u00a0seating\u00a0and a 30-foot-by-16-foot retractable stage that can be used for performances and special events.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Najera, her father\u2019s philosophy continues to guide the school\u2019s mission.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he opened the school, one of our mission and vision statements was to give each child what he or she needs,\u201d Najera said.\u00a0\u201cNot every child needs the same thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The project marks a significant expansion for the private school,\u00a0which moved to its current Apopka campus in 2019<\/a>. School leaders originally hoped to construct the facility within two years of that move, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed those plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ground was broken on the project in March 2025, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for\u00a05 p.m. on\u00a0Aug. 28.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new facility will allow Central Florida Prep to host athletic competitions, tournaments, pep\u00a0rallies\u00a0and school events on campus for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always had sports,\u201d Najera said. \u201cWe\u2019ve always been very good\u00a0in\u00a0volleyball from year to year. We\u2019ve had a soccer program, we\u2019ve had basketball, but we\u2019ve always had to travel off campus for a lot of those practices and games.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond athletics, school leaders say the center will expand opportunities in performing arts, visual arts, speech and debate, video\u00a0production\u00a0and culinary arts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Middle and high school students will have access to performing arts classes and productions, while\u00a0additional\u00a0classroom space will help accommodate enrollment growth.\u00a0The 11 classrooms are expected to support approximately 125\u00a0additional\u00a0students, bringing enrollment closer to the school\u2019s target capacity of 725 students.\u00a0Flanders said the cap is based on the school\u2019s preferred student-teacher ratios rather than the physical capacity of the facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

School leaders expect students across all grade levels to\u00a0use\u00a0the facility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been something that we\u2019ve been talking about a lot on this campus year after year,\u201d said Sean Flanders, the school\u2019s facilities manager. \u201cI know we\u2019re all excited to see what their reactions are when they finally get to walk through.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The facility\u00a0is also\u00a0expected to serve as a gathering place beyond the school\u2019s student body.\u00a0Plans\u00a0are already\u00a0underway to host a volleyball tournament, and administrators are exploring\u00a0additional\u00a0community partnerships and events, including activities involving local first responders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll host our athletics from\u00a0kindergarten up,\u201d Najera said. \u201cEven our littles will get to play games in there, and then we have our performing arts programs as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Najera and Flanders, however, the project\u2019s significance extends beyond\u00a0brick\u00a0and mortar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project has been a long-term vision for our family and for our school,\u201d Najera said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that we\u2019ve talked about since we were students here at CFP.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Teresa Sargeant has been with The Apopka Chief for over 10 years.<\/p>\n

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