Congratulations to Samantha Biggs of Lakewood Ranch High School, who has been recognized as a recipient of the 2025 Yale Educator Award. Only 61 educators and 26 counselors were honored worldwide. She was nominated by 2025 graduate, Addison Shea.
Read more at www.manateeschools.net/goodnews #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
From the grab-and-go window to the lunch line, the dedicated School District of Manatee County Food and Nutrition Services team at Lakewood Ranch High School is always ready to serve the Mustangs with a smile! Meet Kim Newman and Carol Gorman — two incredible "lunch ladies" with a combined 18 years of service to the School District of Manatee County. Their favorite part of the job? The polite students, the occasional side hug, and the unexpected moments that make it all worthwhile.
Kim, a proud Southeast High alum (Class of 1982), still dreams of the days when milkshakes were on the menu. And while today’s most popular lunch picks include popcorn chicken and orange chicken bowls, it’s the students who leave the most lasting impressions. From being gifted a football jersey by LRHS grad CJ McRae, to a former student offering a discount on an oil change... these everyday heroes are making connections that go beyond the cafeteria.
Thank you, Kim, Carol, and the entire LRHS team, for the care, connection, and consistency you bring to The Ranch each and every day.
Kim, a proud Southeast High alum (Class of 1982), still dreams of the days when milkshakes were on the menu. And while today’s most popular lunch picks include popcorn chicken and orange chicken bowls, it’s the students who leave the most lasting impressions. From being gifted a football jersey by LRHS grad CJ McRae, to a former student offering a discount on an oil change... these everyday heroes are making connections that go beyond the cafeteria.
Thank you, Kim, Carol, and the entire LRHS team, for the care, connection, and consistency you bring to The Ranch each and every day.
Today’s #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews Day in the Life at Lakewood Ranch High School began and ended with two familiar faces of safety: School Guardians Tim and Danny.
Tim, a retired NYPD detective who also served on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and Danny, a retired Bradenton police officer who previously served as the School Resource Officer at both Manatee High and Sugg Middle, now dedicate their expertise to protecting Lakewood Ranch students.
Alongside their SRO colleagues from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, these school safety guardians ensure that every student walks onto campus — and heads home — with safety and peace of mind. 💙
Spending the day at Lakewood Ranch High School for a special Day in the Life series — come along with us! ✨ "When life gives you a rainy day, play in the puddles." #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
Surprise Ticket Drop
You did it!
To celebrate a fantastic first week of school, the Bradenton Marauders and the School District of Manatee County are treating the amazing students, teachers, staff and families of the School District to a night out at the ballpark!
Let’s keep the momentum going!
See you at the stadium!
LRHS Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a “Breakfast of Champions” Friday morning to thank teachers and staff for a successful first week of school. The event featured Chick-Fil-A biscuits and fruit.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS & FAMILIES : Is your student planning to attend college or technical school? Not sure where to start with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
Join us for a free FAFSA Information Workshop designed to guide families through the process of applying for financial aid.
📅 Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
🕕 Time: 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Manatee Technical College - 6305 State Road 70 East, Bradenton 34203
During this workshop, you'll learn:
✅ What the FAFSA is and why it’s important
✅ Key deadlines and documents you’ll need
✅ Where to get help if you need it
Join us for a free FAFSA Information Workshop designed to guide families through the process of applying for financial aid.
📅 Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
🕕 Time: 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
📍 Location: Manatee Technical College - 6305 State Road 70 East, Bradenton 34203
During this workshop, you'll learn:
✅ What the FAFSA is and why it’s important
✅ Key deadlines and documents you’ll need
✅ Where to get help if you need it
Lakewood Ranch High School is back in the saddle and ready to ride into a brand new year starting Monday! Administrators and staff are proud to welcome students back to an A-rated school - where excellence is the tradition and success is the goal. Let's Go Mustangs! ¡Vamos Mustangs! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #DiscoverExcellence
The LRHS cheerleaders were awarded Best Cheer Squad for Sarasota and Manatee County at the Sports Awards Banquet at the Van Wezel. The Mustangs performed at the ceremony and accepted their award in person. Head Coach Kim Litwiler said, "We’re so proud of our team’s hard work, spirit, and dedication—this win is for all of you who support us every step of the way!"
Security Screening at Secondary Schools – Beginning Monday, August 11, 2025, all students and visitors at district middle and high schools will be screened each school day using a high-tech security scanner system.
For more information on this enhanced security screening procedure, visit https://www.manateeschools.net/securityscreening.
School Board Seeks Civic-Minded Citizens to Join Audit Committee –
The School Board of Manatee County is seeking civic-minded citizens to serve as members of the Audit Committee. The Committee, which meets six times a year, recommends the appointment of the internal and external auditors; reviews the scope, plan and reports of the internal and external auditors; and assists in maintaining open communications between the selected auditors, the School Board and the District’s financial management. The Committee also reviews the collection and proper use of the funds raised through the one-half cent sales surtax for school capital outlay expenditures. Membership on the Committee requires an average of five-to-eight hours per month, with meetings scheduled every other month for three hours. The term is approximately three years.
Those interested in serving must:
• Live in Manatee County.
• Be a CPA (active or retired) or had employment experience in school district financial operations.
• Submit a letter expressing interest, provide contact information and provide a brief summary of their work experience.
Responses must be sent to the Manatee County School District, Attention: School Board Agency Clerk, P.O. Box 9069, Bradenton, Florida 34206-9069.
Interested individuals may obtain additional information about the Committee by emailing the School Board Agency Administrative Associate at cox3l@manateeschools.net.
The Florida Department of Education released the Florida Value Added Model (VAM) Fiscal Transparency Tool, a web-based fiscal transparency tool that identifies public schools and districts with high academic achievement based on the ratio of classroom expenditures to total expenditures. VAM is intended to help taxpayers evaluate the financial efficiency of a school district with other similarly situated school districts. View the VAM for the School District of Manatee County at
https://floridavam.org/e/vamPublic.html?w4=54#/entityId=262385.
Family Empowerment Scholarship – Parents interested in applying for either FES-EO or FES-UA may review the eligibility requirements and application instructions at https://www.manateeschools.net/FES.
Due to a manufacturer's error on our original shipment, we were able to get additional yearbooks! Buy one before they are gone!
They must be ordered online by going to yearbookforever.com
Once purchased, yearbooks can be picked up in the front office starting Thursday 5/29 from 1pm - 2:30pm and Friday between 5/30 10am - 12:30pm
Yearbooks can also be picked up during our summer hours at the front office beginning Monday 6/2 from 8am - 12pm
*Closed 4th of July Week!
