High School NNN

High School NNN
Opening in August of 2027

High School NNN

Situated at Joel Blvd. and Tuckahoe Rd. in Eastern Lee County, High School NNN will open in August of 2027. The school will have a learning space for 2,000 students from the surrounding area in Alva and Lehigh Acres. Students will have advanced learning opportunities, with a focus on agriculture and career academies, as well as a variety of athletics and clubs for students to get involved in. High School NNN will also feature an Early Childhood Academy, providing daycare to School District employees with young children.

High School NNN Naming Survey

Naming a school is more than choosing words, it’s about creating an identity that reflects the school’s values, vision, and community spirit. A well-chosen name inspires pride, fosters connection, and sets the tone for the learning environment. It becomes the foundation for a strong brand that students, families, and staff can rally behind for generations to come. We invite parents, students, and our community to help us name our new school and be part of creating a lasting legacy that reflects our community’s spirit and values.

The five finalists in alphabetical order are:

  • Alva Heritage High School
  • Alva High School
  • Peter Nelson High School
  • Franklin Mann High School
  • The Alva High School

The survey for students, parents, and community members to rank their favorite choice is now available. Alva High School, Alva Heritage High School, and The Alva High School were chosen to represent the school’s location. Danish sea captain Peter Nelson is the founding father of the town of Alva. He named Alva after a flower found in his native country. Franklin Mann was a lifelong resident of Lee County. He served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, four years in the Florida Senate, and 16 years on the Lee County Commission. The survey is open until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19th.

General Timeline

  • 2016-17
    Alva Inc. expresses support for the Joel/Tuckahoe site as the location for the next SDLC high school
  • 2017
    Gateway HS selected
  • 2022
    Operations and Capital Committee designates the Joel/Tuckahoe site for High School NNN in the development/implementation of the Capital Plan
  • September 2022
    The procurement process for High School NNN at Joel/Tuckahoe site begins
  • January 2023
    Architect, Construction Manager, and Building Official firms are selected and approved by the board for High School NNN on Joel/Tuckahoe site
  • August 2023

    During the 1st Capital Plan presentation, it's stated that the estimated completion year for High School NNN at Joel/Tuckahoe is 2027, with an estimated cost of $140 million

    A workshop presentation to the school board provides background and status of High School NNN and Middle School OO

  • September 2023
    Phase I Pre-Construction budget of $6,785,469 million is approved by the school board for estimated work on High School NNN at Joel/Tuckahoe
  • December 2023
    During the 2nd Capital Plan presentation, it's reiterated that the estimated completion year for High School NNN at Joel/Tuckahoe is 2027, with an estimated cost of $140 million
  • January 2024

    Capital Plan presentation confirms the estimated completion year for High School NNN at Joel/Tuckahoe as 2027, with an estimated cost of $140 million

  • June 2024
    Capital Plan presentation confirms the estimated completion year for High School NNN at Joel/Tuckahoe as 2027 (adjusted to address compression/Army Corps permitting concerns), with an estimated cost of $162,225,000 million
  • July / August 2024
    Board member 1:1’s to discuss High School NNN site at Joel/Tuckahoe. Status and progress of Phase I design and student capacity projections presented

Claim vs Fact

Claim: The School District is rushing to build High School NNN at Joel and Tuckahoe.

Fact

The School District purchased the land in phases (2005-2007) as a future school site because of projected growth in Eastern Lee County. The site was one of two considered for High School MMM in 2017. The District designated the land as the location for High School NNN in 2022 and in 2023 approved the pre-construction costs and engaged the architect, construction manager, and building official to build NNN at Joel and Tuckahoe.

Claim: There are not enough students located near the site to fill the school.

Fact

According to current enrollment projections, East Subzone 2 (E2) and East Subzone 3 (E3) are expected to welcome an additional 5,000 high school students by the year 2034. To accommodate this projected growth, the District's Capital Plan includes the construction of two new high schools—High School NNN and High School QQQ—strategically placed to serve students across the East Zone.

High School NNN, planned for the Joel/Tuckahoe site, will be located within East Subzone 3 (E3). This area currently has only one high school—East Lee County High School—which is insufficient to serve the long-term needs of the community. The addition of High School NNN will provide approximately 2,000 new student seats, greatly relieving capacity pressure and providing a modern educational environment for students in one of the fastest-growing regions of the District.

Claim: The District will unnecessarily have to bus all the students to the new school.

Fact

The District will not unnecessarily bus all students to the new school. Under the current policy, students in Subzone E3 are already eligible for transportation to schools in both E2 and E3. The new high school at Joel and Tuckahoe is strategically located within E3 to serve students from both subzones. Rather than increasing busing, the new school's location is expected to reduce transportation inefficiencies for E3 students by providing a closer option within their subzone.

Claim: The school is for the benefit of developers who will get free access to water, sewer, and electricity because of the utilities necessary for the campus.

Fact

The school is being built to serve the educational needs of a rapidly growing student population in the East Zone—not to benefit developers. All school sites require utility infrastructure, and this is standard for any major public facility. The District works closely with Lee County to ensure that utility and concurrency planning supports the broader needs of the community. Developers do not receive free access to utilities as a result of school construction; utility extensions are planned and funded to meet the requirements of the school, not private development.

Claim: The school should be built on District-owned land at Joel and Davis instead.

Fact

This is not a choice between two sites—the District will need both the Joel/Davis and Joel/Tuckahoe locations to meet projected student growth over the next decade. The school at Joel/Tuckahoe can open as early as 2027, while the earliest possible opening at Joel/Davis is 2030 due to recent site readiness work. The District has only just resolved key issues at Joel/Davis, allowing it to be added to the long-term Capital Plan. Delaying construction at Joel/Tuckahoe would leave thousands of students without needed seats in the near term.

Claim: The roads near the school cannot handle the increase in traffic.

Fact

The District has coordinated closely with Lee County to ensure the road infrastructure can support the new school. The school site has been designed with extensive on-campus stacking to keep parent traffic off surrounding roads during arrival and dismissal. Most bus traffic will approach from the north on Joel Boulevard, minimizing congestion near residential areas. Additionally, Lee County has plans for future road improvements in the area and continues to monitor and prioritize transportation needs as the community grows.

Claim: The school is damaging the environment and the natural habitat of protected species.

Fact

The school site was thoroughly evaluated through required environmental studies, including assessments of protected species and habitat impact. State and federal agencies—including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Water Management District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—reviewed the plans and surveys. Mitigation measures were addressed through official processes, and the Army Corps determined that no wetlands would be impacted, confirming the project meets all environmental protection requirements.

Claim: The school will need to regularly lockdown because of gunfire at nearby outdoor gun ranges.

Fact

This is not correct; outdoor and indoor gun ranges have specific statutory requirements to be in compliance. An outdoor gun range must have at least one acre, along with other requirements, such as a backstop, and is limited to not shoot recklessly or negligently.

Any outdoor ranges would be identified in the area, as indoor and outdoor gun ranges are common in Florida. Normal procedures if gunshots are fired from an unknown area outside of a gun range would cause a “secure” while law enforcement investigates the incident. Of course, the proximity of a gun being fired can affect the response by the school or the visual of a suspicious person that could cause a lockdown as well.

Claim: The school will drain water from local homeowner wells.

Fact

The school will not impact local homeowner wells. It will be connected to public utilities for water and sewer services and will not draw from groundwater for its ongoing operations. A temporary shallow well may be used during construction for dust control, but it will have no effect on residential wells. Stormwater will be managed through a professionally engineered system that complies with all regulatory standards, ensuring no negative impact on nearby properties or water sources.

Claim: A school of this size does not need a 500,000 gallon portable water storage tank.

Fact

Fire suppression and safety standards for High School NNN's 327,590 gross square feet indicate a need for 450,000 gallons of water storage. The required capacity is calculated based on building size according to established fire protection standards. Detailed calculations demonstrating this requirement can be found in the referenced documentation.

NNN Fire Flow Calculation