A New Chapter

A student painting a hand-drawn heart.

In the heart of a community that values education, the grand opening of Ave Maria’s first elementary school will signal a pivotal expansion in learning opportunities, especially for its youngest residents. The new public school will accommodate grades K-5 students in Ave Maria and the surrounding areas.

Previously, families had to choose between private schools in the vicinity or the Estates Elementary School in Collier County for public education.

“This is a great example of the school district responding to current and future educational needs of our community,” said CCPS board member Erick Carter. “The exponential growth in Golden Gate Estates, specifically in Ave Maria, warrants an immediate plan to support the families by providing a comprehensive public school in the community. This shows vision, strategic planning and fiscal responsibility, as it reduces transportation costs and also relieves overcrowding in Estates Elementary School,” Carter shared.

Erick Carter and Stephanie Lucarelli, Collier County Public Schools board members, are advancing educational opportunities in Ave Maria.

The educational landscape around Ave Maria is rich and diverse, characterized by exceptional public institutions like Corkscrew Middle School and Palmetto Ridge High School, both renowned for their academic rigor and nurturing environments.

Moreover, the private sector presents a plethora of valuable educational options, meeting a wide variety of needs and preferences. The Palm Preschool, located in Ave Maria’s Town Center, offers a welcoming environment focused on early education. For students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy provides a comprehensive education that emphasizes holistic development. Meanwhile, the Fellowship Church & Academy combines faith-based education with academic excellence, catering to those who value spiritual growth alongside intellectual development. Notably, Ave Maria University (AMU) emerges as a standout institution, distinguished by its rigorous academic programs and commitment to a faith-based educational approach.

Ave Maria has grown significantly over the years as families started to move into the area. This increase in population highlighted the need for an elementary school to cater to the community’s educational requirements.

“For several years, we have heard requests from residents for Collier County Public Schools to build a school in Ave Maria,” said board member Stephanie Lucarelli, who has been involved in conversations about the school for all those years. “I’m so excited to finally be able to bring this new school to the community.”

Jerry Rutherford, CCPS board member, having attended the recent Bear Creek Elementary groundbreaking, shared great enthusiasm about the future opportunities for students at this institution and the upcoming addition of Elementary School Q to follow.

Originally planned for 500 students, the school district already grew the school in the past year when it realized the need for more capacity. So, instead of a new school for 500 by the 2025-2026 school year, “Elementary School Q” (its placeholder name for now) has stretched to 900 students, with plans to open by the 2026-2027 school year in the western section of the 46-acre lot on Anthem Parkway.

A rendering of the site. COURTESY IMAGES

“Families can expect to see innovations in education and design throughout the school,” said Lucarelli.

Anticipating further growth, the school district has strategically planned a two-story elementary school that allows for future expansion. This adaptable design could either incorporate a middle school or provide more space for elementary students. Elementary School Q marks a departure from the traditional prototype used in the district’s other thirty-some grade schools, introducing a new design set to be unveiled this fall.

“The district’s current prototype for elementary schools does not offer this growth flexibility,” said Marc Rouleau, CCPS chief facilities officer. “With more than 4,300 family home closings in the Ave Maria community as of January 2024 and a projection of more than 4,700 new construction family homes in Ave Maria, the district believes this warrants an elementary school with the capacity to support 900 students.”

CCPS students on a science experience.

Elementary School Q will have a new name decided based on input from the community. Although the district has not yet drawn boundaries for the school, it will likely comprise Ave Maria plus offer availability for out-of-zone school choice students, those whose parents apply for enrollment because of their work situation or other reasons.

Although it will not follow the standard design prototype, the first-of-its-kind district elementary school will conform to the curriculum and facility blueprints across the board. It will be administered to students of all special needs and talents. The district’s trademark-covered physical education pavilion will counteract the conditions of the Florida sun. The school will also address other Florida weather-related needs, such as a storm shelter with reinforced walls, generator backup and other protective measures.

RUTHERFORD

Once the school’s name is set, a mascot and other details will be decided, and the community will have input on that, too. A new dedicated website will allow parents, students, homeowners and other interested parties to learn the latest news about the school and interact with feedback.

“We want the community to be a part of this process,” CCPS chief communications officer Chad Oliver said.

“I am very interested to hear what the Ave Maria community wants to see in this new school, and I encourage them to reach out to me at stephanie.lucarelli@collierschools.com with their ideas,” said Lucarelli.

Once the school’s name is set, a mascot and other details will be decided, and the community will have input on that, too. A new dedicated website will allow parents, students, homeowners and other interested parties to learn the latest news about the school and interact with feedback. “We want the community to be a part of this process,” Chad Oliver, CCPS chief communications officer, said.

Student experiments at CCPS STEAM Expo 2023.

CCPS paused building elementary schools in 2008, but next school year (2025-2026), it will open Bear Creek Elementary at Immokalee Road and Moulder Drive in Golden Gate Estates, followed by the Ave Maria school the following year. Officials say the final decision to build the Ave Maria school was made during the 2023-2024 school year.

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