Cypress Lake Middle School rebuild on track, set to open in October

CYPRESS LAKE, Fla. — Construction is underway along Cypress Lake Drive for what will soon become the new and improved Cypress Lake Middle School.

Matt Miller, the principal of Cypress Lake Middle, visits the site often. He said each tour leaves him stunned.

"Seeing the progress every couple of weeks when I get to tour, it's been phenomenal," Miller said. "It's like seeing a future home being built."

The project began as a promise made by the School District of Lee County during a 2018 sales tax campaign. But as more parents wanted to enroll their kids over the past few years, it quickly became a need.

"The old building was aging, and it was definitely time; it was no longer a sufficient space for the students and staff," said Miller. "This was a very, very much-needed project. And I'm excited about the new design, because a lot of the instructional spaces are larger and better than where we were, you know, in a building that was built in the 1960s."

The old building was demolished back in April of 2025. Currently, students are learning in portable classrooms next to the construction site due to the ongoing work.

Miller said that, because of this, the school reduced its enrollment by 200 students in recent years. The goal is to increase enrollment to just under 1,000 students when the new building opens.

And that day is coming soon, as progress is being made, and fast.

"You'll see the 3-story part of the building," said Matthew Burbach, a project manager for the school district. "That portion is where most of the classroom wing is. We are probably about 80% done."

Miller highlighted the new things to come with their new home.

"Major upgrades," he said. "A lot of the common areas, like the gym, have much improved from the old one, the cafeteria, the media center. It's just so much better in so many ways."

The project is currently on schedule and under its $100.6 million budget, funded by the half-cent sales tax that passed in 2018.

"You know, knock on wood," said Miller. "But things are going according to plan."

The district said it expects students, teachers, faculty and staff to move into their new school in October, with the entire project slated for completion by February 2027.