Several Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) juniors had the opportunity to work with school district leaders to help frame the future of education in Manatee County. This is the second in a series of stories about the event.
Claire Freund – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) junior students Keaven Zhang and Macklin Higgins recently participated in the 2026–2027 Superintendent’s Advisory Panel, where student leaders from across Manatee County gathered to discuss student success, school culture, and ways schools throughout the district can improve.
During the meeting, students were placed into groups with students from different schools and rotated through discussion stations with different prompts and survey questions. Topics focused on student well-being, academic success, teacher support, and what helps students feel most successful at school.
Zhang explained that the meeting allowed students from different schools to compare experiences and identify common concerns across the district.
“We talked with others from different schools and later came together to see if there were any common issues,” he said. “It allowed us to see what issues could be addressed within the district’s control.”
These conversations also allowed students to share feedback directly with district leadership and school officials.
“I think it was very valuable,” Higgins said. “It was an overall good experience, and I got to give my input as a student.”
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According to Zhang, the meeting was especially important because it gave district leaders a better understanding of what students at different schools are experiencing. He explained that hearing directly from students can help district officials make better decisions for schools throughout Manatee County.
“It allows them to see where the schools are at and what main issues the schools have,” Zhang said. “They can better adjust policies to make sure schools can operate at their best potential.”
The meeting also gave students a new perspective on schools across the county. By hearing from students at different campuses, many students realized that schools can vary greatly in the opportunities and resources they offer.
Higgins said hearing from students and school leaders across the district helped provide a broader understanding of the challenges and successes that different schools face.
“It gave me a new perspective on the school because I got to see people from other schools, as well as different leaders from our school,” Higgins said.
Zhang shared a similar perspective and said the experience helped him better appreciate the programs available at Lakewood Ranch High School, especially advanced academic opportunities and college preparation programs.
“It was really an eye opener about how other schools have a lack of things such as APs or college prep programs,” Zhang said.
The advisory panel plans to meet again next year to review whether progress has been made on the concerns and ideas discussed during the meeting. Through continued conversations with district leadership, the panel aims to ensure student voices remain an important part of future decisions throughout Manatee County schools.