Southwest Middle School at 2815 Eden Pkwy. has a brand new look. Following a groundbreaking ceremony held in September 2022, Polk County Public Schools celebrated the opening of the refreshed campus in March 2024.

The goal of the $55 million+ Southwest Middle School Campus Modernization master plan was to update the entire school, which was founded in 1956. Around 800+ students are currently enrolled — now that construction is finished, capacity could increase to around 1,350 students.

Staff + students are already using the newly built facilities. | Photo via Polk County Public Schools

How will the middle school accommodate all those extra students? A new two-story building totaling more than 175,000 sqft includes:

Administrative offices
Classrooms + laboratories
Media center
Fine arts suite
Combined cafeteria + auditorium
Outdoor dining space

Students can hang out outdoors in the new courtyard. | Photo via Polk County Public Schools

In addition to these features, there's also a new bus loop, parent pick-up + drop-off location, and lit fields. Is it normal to be jealous of middle schoolers?

Students and teachers have been using the updated buildings since January 2024 — next, most of the older structures will be demolished, barring the original physical education facility, gym, and science building.

The Southwest Middle School Campus Modernization project is funded by impact fees + Polk County's half-cent sales tax. Compare these original renderings from fall 2022 with the finished project.