PHOTOS: Sneak peek of the new Atwater Bay Elementary School

Orange County Public Schools hosted a sneak peek event for the community to view the new Atwater Bay Elementary School Wednesday, July 31, in Horizon West. 

The $45 million project, completed in July, is the first elementary school built from the new district prototype.

The new campus sits on 15 acres of land, and the school is a two-story structure measuring 106,191 square feet.

SchenkelShultz was the project architect, while Welbro served as the contractor and Tamara Cox as the project manager.

The new school is located in the Village H North area of Horizon West at 11000 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden. 

The elementary school includes a large interior courtyard, outdoor art labs and two playgrounds. The front of the school houses the office, media center, art and music rooms, multipurpose cafeteria, and kitchen, with classrooms and labs to the rear. The second floor contains classrooms and a skills lab. A Discovery STEM lab also is set up.

Differing from previously constructed elementary schools, the new district prototype improves upon OCPS’ previous designs, with greater efficiencies and sustainability, and provides a larger number of multipurpose educational opportunities for students.

Under the new prototype, all new elementary schools will have increased outdoor instruction in their courtyards, with covered art patios, school gardens, flexible learning spaces, strategic shade and canopies, better landscaping, and flexible gathering spaces. Safety enhancements include intermediate classrooms, internal shared vestibules, classroom only restroom access and safe zones in each classroom.

Parent drop-off will be in the front off Atwater Bay Drive. The school has parking for 140 vehicles, as well as a stacking capability of 168 vehicles and 38 buses.

Atwater Bay will help relieve Water Spring and Panther Lake elementary schools, with a capacity of 841 students. The first-year projection is about 725 students.

Matthew Hendricks, former Water Spring principal, is Atwater Bay’s founding principal.

Orange County School Board Member Pam Gould said she is thrilled to see the new prototype and to open the fifteenth school in her tenure. 

"What a great way to exit my public service," she said. "It is very exciting to be able to bring new schools that serve the neighborhoods in West Orange County. I wish to thank the residents who have supported the half-penny sales tax that have made possible the funding of new schools, replacement schools and complete renovations for the students of our community. Not only have they provided places of enriched education, but they have been a tremendous asset to enhancing the property values for our community."