In 2025, excitement filled the air in North Port as Imagine School broke ground on its new K–12 campus, set to open for the 2026–27 school year. The future site, at 1700-1900 East Price Blvd., marks a big step forward, not just for the school, but for the entire community.
The new K–12 Imagine School campus in North Port will open for the 2026–2027 academic year. Based on standard Florida school opening schedules, this typically indicates a start date in early-to-mid August 2026.
Spanning 139,500 square feet and built for 1,500 students, this modern campus will bring together the current upper and lower schools under one roof, offering upgraded sports facilities, two gyms, two cafeterias, a playground, and a full athletic field with a track.
The campus design features two main buildings: a two-story wing for grades K-5 and a three-story section for grades 6-12, all set on a 20-acre parcel just about two miles from the existing campuses.
Everyone celebrated the start of construction, with students, staff, and local leaders gathered and cheering while the Imagine Young Marines marched in to start the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance. You could hear construction noises in the background, tangible evidence of progress.
Imagine Upper Campus Principal John Halcomb took to the podium, reflecting on how Imagine School has grown since it opened in North Port back in 2008. “We’re thriving,” he told the crowd. The school boasts an A-rating, and Halcomb gave credit to faculty, parents, students, and the wider community, with a special nod to North Port Police.
“This is the future,” Mark Pedro, president of the Imagine Governing Board, declared. He thanked everyone who worked to turn the vision into reality. “We’re on a tight schedule and can’t wait to open.”
Lower Campus Principal Aleischa Coover was visibly moved. “I really can’t believe we’re standing here right now,” she said. She recognized students and staff, some of them Imagine graduates, then pulled out a piece of paper from a January 2018 board workshop, when the idea for a unified campus first appeared. “We have been talking about this for years. It is surreal to be standing here today,” she said.
Standing before the crowd, Coover pointed out that what was once a vision: one campus, one central office, now exists. “Well, you are standing in that shared office right now,” she told everyone.
Upper Campus Assistant Principal Tony Graham chimed in, echoing the sense of excitement: “It’s a great time to be a Shark!” Plans for the $50 million facility are solid. The school sits about 1.7 miles from Toledo Blade Boulevard and will draw students from the rapidly growing North Port area.
Currently, the Toledo Blade divides the existing campuses. Soon, they’ll unite in a U-shaped campus designed for learning and growth. Drop-off and pickup will be easier thanks to a dedicated car-stacking loop. The athletic facilities, playgrounds, and classrooms will serve students from kindergarten through high school, all in one place.
North Port’s city leaders formally approved the development in June. Imagine Schools, the nonprofit network behind this project, operates 54 public charter campuses nationwide and serves around 32,000 students. With this new campus on the horizon, the future looks bright for Imagine and for North Port.
