Community Corner

New K-8 in Rancho Mission Viejo Gets the Green Light

The school will be the first built in Capistrano Unified since San Juan Hills High was opened in 2007.

Capistrano Unified school board members approved an agreement with the developer of Rancho Mission Viejo Wednesday that will lead to the construction of the first school there.

"I do think we need to celebrate a bit," said Superintendent Joseph Farley, adding that the two parties have been negotiating the project now for two years. "It's quite an accomplishment."

The first residents are starting to move into the multi-phase development which will ultimately have 14,000 homes, said a spokeswoman for the Ranch.

The agreement with the school district calls for the school to be built when:
  • Rancho Mission Viejo produces 300 K-5 students more than the available, permanent capacity for Ambuehl Elementary in San Juan Capistrano (there’s currently 66 open spots) – or
  • The 1,150th dwelling unit is two months away from closing escrow
So far, 300 of the 1,227 homes and apartments in the first phase, off of Ortega Highway and Antonio Parkway east of San Juan Capistrano, called Sendero, have been purchased, said Diane Gaynor, Rancho Mission Viejo spokeswoman. 

But because part of the project is devoted to senior housing, the 1,227 homes and apartments are only projected to produce 322 K-8 students and 77 ninth-12th-graders. So the new school won't come online until the next planning area, as yet unnamed, comes online. That's also where the school will be located.

The new school will include permanent accommodations for 1,200 students, but have portable classrooms to serve another 400 students while additional schools are built in the rest of the development, according to the agreement.

"It is exciting, I’m very excited," said Trustee Anna Bryson.


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