OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA – January 21, 2026 — Okeechobee County Schools is announcing a series of campus transitions that will take effect beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, aligning district facilities to better serve students at every grade level and to maximize the benefits of recently completed and upcoming capital investments.

With the completion of the new Okeechobee High School campus, the school will expand to serve students in grades 9–12. As part of this transition, ninth-grade students will attend school full time on the Okeechobee High School campus, and the Okeechobee Freshman Campus will cease operations.

Students currently enrolled in secondary programs at Okeechobee Achievement Academy will relocate to the former Freshman Campus building, while elementary students participating in the school’s IBP program will transition to Seminole Elementary School. This move will allow the district to better align academic programs with appropriate facilities while continuing to support students through focused programming and services.

In addition, the district will open a new early learning center dedicated exclusively to Pre-K students. The early learning center will be located on the Okeechobee Achievement Academy site and will provide young learners with a welcoming, age-appropriate space designed to support early childhood development and readiness for kindergarten.

To support these transitions, Okeechobee County Schools will begin capital improvement projects at both the newly configured Okeechobee Achievement Academy and the future early learning center. These improvements will focus on refreshing facilities, enhancing learning spaces, and ensuring that students and families are welcomed into safe, modern, and engaging environments.

The district will also work closely with families to ensure that student transportation needs are met wherever possible as these changes are implemented.

“These campus changes reflect a thoughtful, long-term approach to serving students at every stage of their educational journey,” said Dylan Tedders, Superintendent of Schools. “Just as importantly, they underscore our commitment to early learning. We know that the experiences students have in their earliest years lay the foundation for lifelong success.  By investing in a dedicated early learning center, we are investing in children’s lives and are making early learning a cornerstone of our district’s educational approach.”

Additional information, including timelines and family communications, will be shared with parents and staff as planning continues.