South Shore families have until 5 p.m. Friday, July 31, to submit name suggestions for the new middle school under construction in Wimauma, a $72 million facility that will serve up to 1,600 students when it opens in August 2027.
The school, currently called Middle School VV, sits on an 87-acre campus at 1712 W. Lake Drive, next to Aquilla J. Morgan High School, which opened in August 2025. A future elementary school is also planned for the same site, according to a Hillsborough County Public Schools press release dated June 29.
Residents can submit names through an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/8fpxcm7. The survey opened Monday, June 29. The Hillsborough County School Board is scheduled to vote on a final name at its Tuesday, September 1 meeting.
Why it matters locally
The Wimauma campus sits in the same fast-growing southeastern Hillsborough corridor that feeds into Apollo Beach and Ruskin neighborhoods. Hillsborough County is projected to add more than 121,000 new residents by 2030, according to district planning documents, and existing middle schools in the area are overcrowded.
The new campus will accommodate up to 1,600 students, helping relieve overcrowding at existing middle schools in southeastern Hillsborough County as the region continues to add new housing and residents. District leaders say the school will help meet demand in one of the county's fastest-growing areas
Deputy Superintendent Chris Farkas told WFTS Tampa Bay 28 during a June 18 report on the school's topping-out ceremony that area middle schools are "bursting at the seams" because of rapid residential construction.
School Board Member Lynn Gray, speaking in the same June 18 WFTS broadcast, said she has watched Wimauma transform over 11 years with housing developments, apartment complexes, and shopping centers spreading across the area.
Naming rules
Proposed names must comply with School Board Policy 7250, according to the Osprey Observer. Names may honor U.S. presidents, school board members, educators, outstanding citizens, or geographic locations. They must respect all races, cultures, and ethnic values. An elected official must have been out of public office for at least five years to be considered, and no current candidate for public office qualifies.
Construction progress
Kansas City-based JE Dunn Construction is the general contractor. The school broke ground in 2025 and reached its topping-out milestone on Tuesday, June 16. The district says the school will offer accelerated coursework, opportunities to earn high school credit, career and technical education, industry certifications, and extracurricular activities including clubs and sports.
Superintendent Van Ayres said in the June 29 press release that the school will expand learning opportunities for students in a community experiencing rapid growth.
Residents can track construction progress at www.hillsboroughschools.org/page/middle-vv.
The naming survey closes at 5 p.m. Friday, July 31. The School Board's vote is set for Tuesday, September 1.
