Officials gathered last week to mark a key milestone in the construction of a new K-8 school in the heart of the SilverLeaf community with a “topping out” ceremony, celebrating the completion of the building’s structural framework.
The yet-to-be-named school, set to open for the 2026–2027 academic year, will span 190,000 square feet across three stories and feature 73 classrooms.
It is designed to accommodate roughly 1,500 students, according to Deputy Superintendent Brennan Asplen.
“We’re very happy about this building and it being located here in SilverLeaf,” Asplen said. “And I know the community is very happy about that as well.”
Dignitaries in attendance included outgoing Superintendent Tim Forson, St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick, Commissioner Ann Taylor, School Board Member Anthony Coleman, and District Spokesperson Christina Upchurch.
The new school is part of the district’s broader strategy to ease overcrowding in local schools.
Asplen noted that more than 13,000 students are currently housed in portable classrooms throughout the county, and that attendance rolls continue to swell.
With another K-8 school also under construction in Nocatee, the total number of K-8 schools in the district will rise to 12.
SilverLeaf, a rapidly growing master-planned community in St. Johns County, spans over 11,000 acres and features a range of housing options, including single-family homes, townhomes, and a 55+ gated community.
