Marine Science Charter Adding Middle School Capacity at Its Key Largo Location

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/23/21

A charter school in Florida is seeing the sun rise on a new middle school. The middle school at Ocean Studies Charter in Key Largo is expected to finished by Thanksgiving, allowing the free public charter to enable its existing K–5 students to continue their education at the same facility.

While the school covers the basics—English language arts, math, geography, science and PE—students also study marine science. Each week, they take a field trip to connect their lessons to real-life experiences. Ocean Studies employs a full marine science teacher who works with small groups on projects.

Ocean Studies Charter Middle School

According to local reporting, the addition of a two-story wing facility will include four new classrooms with a courtyard and seating in the middle, where students can eat and learn "in the open air." During the first year, the school will welcome its first crop of sixth-graders, adding grade 7 and 8 students in 2022-2023.

On the curriculum front, the charter will allow its middle schoolers to expand their understanding of the environment of the Florida Keys and "start to compare it on a national and global level."

Once the construction project is done, the school will start work on an outdoor science lab and play area.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • AP Construction Breaks Ground on Two Projects for Austin ISD

    Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) recently announced that it has broken ground on two renovation projects for the Austin Independent School District, according to a news release. The work at McCallum and Anderson High Schools totals 97,350 square feet and is scheduled for completion in January 2027.

  • California High School Starts Construction on STEAM, Music Buildings

    Tamalpais High School, part of the Tamalpais Union High School District, recently broke ground on two new major facilities for its campus in Mill Valley, Calif., according to a news release. The district is partnering with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Lathrop Construction Associates for the Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and Music Buildings, both replacing their outdated counterparts.

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

  • EPA to Provide $26M in Grants to Protect School, Child Care Drinking Water

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it will award $26 million in grant funding to test and fix lead-contaminated water at U.S. schools and childcare centers, according to local news.

Digital Edition