Even after opening three new schools for the 2022-2023 school year in Horizon West, 8 schools in the area remain overcapacity. The three new schools to open were Hamlin Elementary, Hamlin Middle, and Panther Lake Elementary. The new Hamlin schools are situated within the new Silverleaf development, which will be adding 2,300 residential units.
The problem of overcapacity in schools is not unique to Horizon West, but it is particularly pronounced in this area due to the rapid pace of development. The most crowded school, Water Spring Elementary, is currently at 135.7% capacity, even after some students were rezoned to the newly opened Panther Lake School. Another relief school, 47-E-W-4, will relieve Water Spring. The new school site is located less than a mile from Water Spring within the Waterleigh community and will open in August 2024.
Water Spring Middle School opened early without a campus and continues to share the campus at Horizon High. The middle school campus will open in August 2023.
Current Horizon West School Enrollment & Capacity Information:
Elementary Schools | Enrollment | Capacity | Usage |
Bay Lake Elementary | 713 | 791 | 90.1% |
Castleview Elementary | 708 | 791 | 89.5% |
Hamlin Elementary | 432 | 693 | 62.3% |
Independence Elementary | 859 | 786 | 109.3% |
Keenes Crossing Elementary | 1010 | 812 | 124.4% |
Panther Lake Elementary | 605 | 791 | 76.5% |
Summerlake Elementary | 750 | 751 | 99.9% |
Sunset Park Elementary | 819 | 760 | 107.8% |
Water Spring Elementary | 1073 | 791 | 135.7% |
Total | 6969 | 6966 | 100.0% |
Middle Schools | Enrollment | Capacity | Usage |
Bridgewater Middle | 1216 | 1028 | 118.3% |
Hamlin Middle | 725 | 1227 | 59.1% |
Horizon West Middle | 1359 | 1194 | 113.8% |
Water Spring Middle | 639 | 706 | 90.5% |
Total | 3939 | 4155 | 94.8% |
High Schools | Enrollment | Capacity | Usage |
Windermere High School | 3074 | 2753 | 111.7% |
Horizon High | 2021 | 1950 | 103.6% |
Total | 5095 | 4703 | 108.3% |
Enrollment | Capacity | Usage | |
Grand Total | 16,003 | 15,824 | 101.1% |
According to the OCPS ten-year plan, the next school to open in Horizon West after Water Spring Middle and 47-E-W-4 will be school 126-E-W-4 in 2027. This site will be a new elementary school located in the Hartzog Road area.
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