Westlake New Elementary School Boundary Plan (Opens 2027)

Westlake's New Elementary School: Who Will Attend and Why It Matters

Westlake is getting its own elementary school, and a key decision about who will attend it was made on Oct. 22, 2026. The School District of Palm Beach County's Advisory Boundary Committee voted 10-0 to send students from all of Westlake, including the 1,900-plus homes still to be built west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, to the new school at Persimmon Blvd. and Green Lane when it opens in August 2027. Supporters say a citywide boundary keeps neighborhoods together and trips short. Others worry that Westlake's fast growth could fill the 970-seat school quickly. Here's what was decided and what each side has said.

The new Westlake school at a glance

The school: A three-story, 96,000-square-foot elementary school at Persimmon Blvd. and Green Lane, called West Community Elementary for now
Opens: August 2027
Seats: 970
First students: About 350 from Golden Grove Elementary and 120 from Loxahatchee Groves Elementary
The vote: The Advisory Boundary Committee chose "Study 1," a citywide boundary, 10-0 on Oct. 22, 2026
Middle school: The new school would feed entirely into Osceola Creek Middle School

The two options

Both options moved students from Westlake's existing neighborhoods to the new school. The difference was Westlake's future western growth, the Town-Crier reported:

Study 1 (chosen): future homes west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road are zoned for the new school from the start.
Study 2: those future students would have attended Loxahatchee Groves Elementary.

What changes for families

Shorter trips. District staff estimated that trips from Westlake neighborhoods now assigned to Golden Grove run about 7 to 8.5 miles, compared with about 0.8 to 3.3 miles to the new school.
An option to stay. Students entering fifth grade in 2027-28, along with their siblings (including incoming kindergartners), can choose to stay at their current school.
Feeder patterns. Golden Grove would feed entirely into Western Pines Middle School, while Loxahatchee Groves would keep its split feeder pattern.
New choice programs. Golden Grove and Loxahatchee Groves will both offer more out-of-zone choice program seats starting in 2028.

The case for a citywide boundary

Get it right before homes fill in. "Those homes are not built yet. This is exactly why we should include them now," Westlake Mayor JohnPaul O'Connor told the committee. "We have an incredibly rare opportunity to get the boundary right the first time before the neighborhoods fill in and the patterns become harder to change."
Closer to home. O'Connor cited district estimates of a 1.6-mile trip to the new school for future western residents, compared with 4.8 miles to Loxahatchee Groves.
Built for Westlake. He also pointed to the school's planned golf cart drop-off and pickup area. "That coordination shows that the district understands our community," he said.
Educating the whole city. "I was happy with either proposal," said Darline Winewski, principal of the new school. "[But] the idea of educating all the children of Westlake is exciting."

The case for caution

Growth could outpace seats. Westlake has been the county's fastest-growing municipality for years. "If that growth rate continues, we could reach capacity very quickly," said John McGovern, who will take over the District 6 School Board seat in November and said there are "a lot of reasons to support the plan."
Projections show it filling up. District staff projected the school would reach about 90 percent capacity in 2030 and 95 percent in 2031.
Known vs. unknown. Committee member Anita Kaplan, a Westlake resident, said either option was feasible but, "I'm more comfortable knowing what we have than what we will have."

What happens next

The committee's recommendation goes forward to the district. Superintendent Michael Burke or the School Board could override it, but retiring School Board Member Marcia Andrews said that would be highly unusual. Westlake's Education Advisory Board meets next on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Lodge at the Westlake Adventure Park. For more on growth in Westlake, see Westlake's speed cameras on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.

What do you think?

Was including all of Westlake's future homes the right call, or should the district have kept room to spare at the new school? If you live in Westlake, how will the change affect your family?

Frequently asked questions

When does Westlake's new elementary school open?

August 2027. The three-story, 96,000-square-foot school at Persimmon Blvd. and Green Lane, called West Community Elementary for now, has 970 seats.

Which students will attend the new Westlake elementary school?

Under the boundary plan the district's Advisory Boundary Committee chose 10-0 on Oct. 22, 2026, students from all of Westlake, including future homes west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. About 350 students would move from Golden Grove Elementary and 120 from Loxahatchee Groves Elementary.

Can current students stay at their old school?

Students entering fifth grade in 2027-28, and their siblings, including incoming kindergartners, can choose to stay at their current school.

What middle school will the new Westlake elementary feed into?

Osceola Creek Middle School.