By Cindy Peterson
Lake Schools Considering Combining Oak Park and Carver Middle Schools
Lake County Schools is proposing to combine Oak Park Middle School and Carver Middle School into a single middle school campus in Leesburg, a move district leaders say would expand academic offerings, increase elective options and create new opportunities for students.
Under the proposal, the combined school would be located on the Carver Middle School campus and would open for the 2027-28 school year. Both schools would continue operating separately during the 2026-27 school year while district officials work through a yearlong planning and transition process.
According to the district, the proposal is designed to strengthen middle school programming by bringing together students, staff and resources from both schools into a larger learning environment capable of supporting a broader range of courses and extracurricular activities.
Currently, enrollment at both schools limits the number of electives and specialized programs that can be offered. District leaders say combining the schools could allow students access to additional opportunities such as culinary arts, digital design, robotics and other courses aligned with the Career and Technical Education 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 Leesburg High.
If approved by the School Board, renovations at the Carver campus could begin as early as this summer. District officials say students, families, staff and community members would be invited to participate on committees throughout the transition process to help guide planning and decision-making.
School leaders emphasized that both Oak Park Middle School and Carver Middle School have deep roots within the Leesburg community.
“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.”
District officials said there are currently no plans to change the name of Carver Middle School. However, students and community stakeholders will have opportunities to provide input on future branding and school identity.
To gather public feedback before the proposal is presented to the School Board on June 8, Lake County Schools will host two community open houses where residents can review preliminary plans, ask questions and share input.
The meetings are scheduled for:
• Oak Park Middle School — June 2 at 6 p.m.
• Carver Middle School — June 4 at 6 p.m.
Additional information will be shared by the district as the proposal moves through the review process.
Cindy serves as Executive Editor of Style Magazine and is a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography and video editing. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine’s Sports Hub Podcast and Style Podcast. Cindy also serves as a producer for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy enjoys traveling to national parks with her husband, Ryan, and son, David, while photographing wildlife — especially squirrels.
