Phase one of construction of Okeechobee High School concluded at the beginning of August and is set to open at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

The construction started about a year and a half ago and is “pretty much changing everything in terms of [the school] itself,” assistant superintendent for administrative services Joseph Stanley said.

During phase one, they completed the Career and Technical Education building, which is about 19,000 square feet. Over the next two years, the construction will be in phase two which is the “major phase” of 230,000 square feet Stanley said.

“We will change the buildings, obviously, the format, the layout, … the modernization of facilities. It’ll be a complete revamp and replacement of the high school itself,” Stanley said.

The final phase is demolition of the current original facilities, where they are currently operating out of. The construction is happening behind the current facility.

“Our students are very pleased with the new facility,” Stanley said. “Our teachers as well.”

The new facilities are being constructed behind the current building, so the CTE building is at the back of the property.

“We’re having to shuttle students to that between periods each day. That’s been the biggest area of concern,” Stanley said. “But in terms of … the positive aspects, they expanded lab facilities that they have available there, now house our CTE programs. … That comes with a huge number of benefits as well.”

Stanley said his personal hope for the construction project is to expand educational offerings and show students they value education.

“My other hope is that it helps to revitalize some of the community efforts by doing things like expanding to where we can use local partners and things along those lines,” Stanley said. “It truly is a community effort, and I look forward to seeing the community’s reaction to the finished product.”