Sarasota County marks construction milestone at new high school

Personnel from Sarasota County Schools recently joined construction officials to celebrate the topping out of what will become Sarasota County’s newest high school.

Wellen Park High School is set to open in August 2026.

Lakewood Ranch-based Willis Smith Construction broke ground on the new school in 2024. It is being built along 81 acres at 10801 Manasota Beach Road.

The school board secured more than $185 million in financing in 2023 for the project, which school officials reported in November 2024 had a budget of $200 million.

A 325,000-square-foot academic building will be the focal point of the campus, which will also feature a complete athletic complex. Career and technical education programs will be offered at the school, including a marine biology lab and performing arts center. 

Image via Sarasota County Schools / Facebook

“This campus is designed to empower students and prepare them for bright futures,” Sarasota County Schools said on Facebook in an announcement about the topping out. When a building is topped out, it is structurally complete. 

According to Willis Smith Construction, the project also includes a synthetic turf football field, a nine-lane running track, volleyball courts, track and field assemblies, outdoor basketball courts, soccer fields, a baseball field, a softball field and stadium bleachers.

The new Wellen Park High School is intended to alleviate overcrowding at Venice High School. It will accommodate about 2,100 students when it opens for the 2026–2027 school year.

Miami-based Zyscovich is the architecture firm designing the project.