Lake County Schools has proposed combining Oak Park Middle School and Carver Middle School into one comprehensive middle school designed to expand academic offerings and provide additional opportunities for students in Leesburg.
The proposal would use the Carver campus as the future home of the combined middle school for the 2027-28 school year. If approved by the School Board, renovations at Carver could begin as early as this summer, followed by a yearlong transition and planning process involving students, families, staff, and community members, who will be placed on committees to help guide decision-making.
District leaders say the proposal is intended to strengthen middle school programming by bringing together students, staff, and resources from the two schools into a larger learning environment capable of supporting a wider variety of courses and extracurricular opportunities.
Currently, the relatively small enrollment at each school limits the number of electives and specialized programs that can be offered. Under the proposal, students would have access to expanded elective options such as culinary arts, digital design, robotics, and other courses aligned with the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways available at Leesburg High School. The district is also exploring the addition of Pre-AICE coursework to help prepare students for the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education program offered at the high school level.
Both schools would operate separately, as they do now, for the 2026-27 school year. The proposed combined middle school would open in Fall 2027.
District officials emphasized that both Oak Park Middle School and Carver Middle School have long and meaningful histories within the Leesburg community. There are no plans to change the name of Carver Middle, but there will be opportunities for rebranding with input from students and community stakeholders.
“We recognize the pride and traditions associated with both schools,” Deputy Superintendent Chad Farnsworth said. “Our goal is to create even greater opportunities for students while honoring the legacy and contributions of both school communities.”
To provide information and gather community feedback, the district will host two public open house meetings prior to School Board consideration of the proposal on June 8.
Community Open House Meetings:
Oak Park Middle School — Tuesday, June 2, at 6 p.m.
Carver Middle School — Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m.
Community members will have an opportunity to review preliminary plans, ask questions, and share input regarding the proposal.
Additional information will be shared through district communication channels as the process moves forward.