Olivia Holden – Mustangs Ahead Senior Editor
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)- Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Principal Dustin Dahlquist will leave the school to serve as founding principal of Rangeland High School come July 1, 2026.
Dahlquist has served as the principal of LRHS for about seven and a half of his 30 years of service with the School District of Manatee County (SDMC).
He has made a significant impact on LRHS, including developing the Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment courses.
Even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dahlquist kept the school academically strong.
Dahlquist said, “We've lived through a lot of stuff together, including the worst pandemic in 100 years. We've overcome all that, though, and that shows through our outstanding school grades and AP scores.
“This is an exceptional school with exceptional people. Our faculty and staff, but also the community that has offered such great support out here,” said Dahlquist.
LRHS is scheduled to have a new principal on board by July 1, 2026.
The SDMC will be relying heavily on the Mustang community to contribute to the process of selecting a new principal.
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SDMC Executive Director of High Schools Sharon Scarbrough said, “A survey will be released to LRHS and to the school community to determine their expectations about the new principal. The survey is scheduled to run through May 27. Parents can access the survey through FOCUS.”
Although Dahlquist is ending his time here at the Ranch, he thinks the two schools will go hand in hand with each other.
“The programs offered at both Lakewood Ranch and Rangeland will complement each other. Lakewood Ranch and the east county area will be very proud of both schools,” Dahlquist stated.
While his time at the Ranch is ending, Dahlquist looks back fondly on the seven years he has spent at LRHS.
Dahlquist said, “I've loved my time here at the Ranch. I can't say enough about the seven-and-a-half years I've been here.”
Rangeland High School is scheduled to open in Aug. of 2027.