News Summary
Knoxville is set to build a new K-8 school, addressing overcrowding and consolidating local educational resources.
Knoxville is set to witness the construction of a new K-8 school at the site of the former Rule High School, located at 1919 Vermont Ave in Lonsdale. The new educational facility aims to serve around 1,000 elementary students and 600 middle school students from the Beaumont, Lonsdale, and Mechanicsville communities. Construction is projected to begin in the summer of 2026, with an expected completion date in 2028. This initiative is a proactive response to overcrowding issues in the area, aiming to address the educational needs of the growing population.
The establishment of the new K-8 school will lead to significant changes in the local school landscape. To facilitate room for the new facility, the district plans to close Beaumont Magnet Academy and Maynard Elementary School, redistributing their students to the new institution. Additionally, West View Elementary School will be converted into a standalone preschool as part of the restructuring efforts. These changes are intended to streamline school zoning and ensure that students from neighborhoods can attend the same schools from elementary through high school.
The land for the new school was acquired through a property swap agreement with Knox County. Under this agreement, Knox County Schools (KCS) will transfer the Beaumont and Maynard buildings to the county in exchange for the Rule High School site. This deal was approved by the Knox County Commission in late March, paving the way for the construction project.
The new school responds to the current situation where students from elementary schools, including Beaumont Magnet Academy, Maynard, Lonsdale, and West View, are divided among various middle and high schools such as Bearden, Northwest, Whittle Springs, Vine, Central, Fulton, and West. The school aims to ease this fragmentation and foster a sense of community among students.
The estimated cost for constructing the new K-8 school stands at nearly $60 million, in addition to $3 million allocated for furniture, equipment, and technology. The project is part of a larger plan as the district anticipates an influx of students resulting from developments like the Transforming Western Heights project, which is poised to add 740 affordable housing units that could accommodate approximately 400 school-age children.
KCS has recognized the need for capital improvements and allocated $66 million in such funds last year in anticipation of demographic changes and growing local populations. As part of this investment, plans are also in place for a large 1,200-student elementary school in the Farragut area, which is expected to open by the 2026-27 school year at a projected cost of $47 million.
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Additional Resources
- Knox News: Knox County Commission Property Swap
- Wikipedia: Knoxville
- WATE: Knox County Schools Approves New K-8 School
- Google Search: Knox County Schools K-8 School
- WBIR: KCS Plan to Open New K-8 School
- Google Scholar: Knoxville K-8 School
- Knox Focus: The Knoxville Focus for February 10, 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Knox County Schools
- Knox News: New KCS School on Former Rule High School Site
- Google News: Knox County Schools
