Say hello to the new Southwest Middle!
We gathered in Lakeland yesterday evening to celebrate the completion of Southwest’s rebuilt campus. Southwest was founded in 1956 and PCPS began the modernization project in September 2022, essentially creating a new school. Students have been attending classes in the new facilities since January.
The revamped campus includes a central courtyard with outdoor seating, as well as energy-efficient buildings and a cafeteria designed to serve as a storm shelter. This project cost more than $55 million and encompasses approximately 187,000 square feet.
The modernization was made possible by our district’s half-cent sales tax, which Polk County voters renewed in 2018; impact fees also funded this effort. In recent years, PCPS has completed similar projects for Mulberry High, Bartow High and Garner Academy. In addition, a modernization project is currently in the early stages at Elbert Elementary.
We hope the Southwest community will enjoy this new school for generations to come!
