An artistic representation of the future Rienda School campus, designed for STEAM education.
Construction has officially started on the Rienda School in Rancho Mission Viejo, aimed at accommodating a growing student population. The school will open in fall 2027 and serve 1,600 students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, focusing on STEAM education with advanced facilities. The project was approved to address rising enrollment needs, as existing schools approach capacity. Additionally, complementary community developments are on the horizon, enhancing local education and recreational opportunities.
Construction has officially begun for the new Rienda School, a project initiated by the Capistrano Unified School District. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday, May 16, marking a significant milestone for the educational community in Rancho Mission Viejo. The new school is on track to open in the fall of 2027.
Rienda School will be located on nearly 15 acres of land situated between Coyotes and Pablo Way in the latest village of Rienda. The school is designed to accommodate up to 1,600 students, offering grades from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade.
This new educational facility will focus on STEAM education, which integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and math into engaging and hands-on learning experiences. The school will feature an innovation center that includes a robotics lab and advanced wireless technology. Facilities for performing arts as well as outdoor learning spaces will also be provided, enhancing the overall educational environment.
The establishment of Rienda School responds to the growing number of students in the area. To accommodate the rising enrollment at the existing Esencia School, which opened in 2018, the district has added 400 temporary seats at Esencia TK-8. With projections indicating that Esencia will reach its capacity by the fall of 2027, the Rienda School project was approved during a school board meeting in February of this year.
Rienda School will feed into Tesoro High School, similar to the arrangement with Esencia School. The design and capacity of the new school align with the district’s facilities master plan, which stipulates that new TK-8 campuses must serve at least 1,200 students, with the option to incorporate additional relocatable classrooms to increase total capacity to 1,600.
The estimated cost of the Rienda School project is $78.5 million. It will be funded through a combination of developer fees and state matching funds, ensuring that the financial structures are in place to support this significant investment in educational infrastructure.
Currently, underground work for the construction has commenced, paving the way for future developments. The classrooms at Rienda School will feature flexible furniture that can be adapted to different teaching methodologies, unlike older school designs which typically use fixed furniture. This innovation is expected to enhance the learning experience for students.
Adjacent to Rienda School, there is a plan for a joint-use park covering six acres. This park will include youth athletic fields, picnic areas, and walking trails, providing additional recreational opportunities for students and the community at large.
Furthermore, the Rienda community continues to evolve, with the next phase set to introduce 175 new homes across three neighborhoods, anticipated to open in June. Once fully developed, the Rienda area will encompass approximately 6,000 acres and contain a total of 14,000 homes, with 6,000 of these reserved for residents aged 55 and older.
The Capistrano Unified School District, the largest school district in Orange County, serves over 47,000 students across 63 campuses in the region. The establishment of Rienda School is part of the district’s ongoing efforts to cater to a growing student population and maintain high educational standards for the communities it serves.
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