Collier County Eyes New School-Zone Map; Major Shift Could Hit Estates Elementary

A Boundary Shake-up Heads to the School Board

The Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) is poised to approve a proposed redraw of several elementary-school attendance zones. The changes — scheduled for a vote Wednesday, Dec. 10 — will impact families living in parts of eastern Collier County once the new Ave Maria Elementary School opens in August 2026.

The biggest shift affects Estates Elementary School: under the new plan, students living east of a boundary line drawn along Oil Well Grade Road/Oil Well Road will be rezoned to Ave Maria Elementary.

Other schools — including Naples Park Elementary School, Pelican Marsh Elementary School and others — are listed on the boundary-change proposal, though current projections show no students will be reassigned from those campuses under the new map.

What’s Driving the Change — And Why It Matters

As the community expands eastward, CCPS says the zone adjustments aim to relieve overcrowding, better align school capacity with population growth, and prevent future congestion in bus routes and enrollment lines. The district’s Attendance Boundary Review Team studied several scenarios — considering walk/bus distances, neighborhood cohesion, long-term growth, and fiscal responsibility — before finalizing the recommendation.

For families in the Estates-to-Ave Maria zone, the change could cut daily commute time for kids and open access to a brand-new school facility at opening. For others further west, the adjustments are largely anticipatory — meant to keep up ahead of growth, even if no immediate impacts are expected.

What Happens After the Vote — And What Families Should Know

If the board approves, the new boundaries will take effect in the 2026–2027 school year, when Ave Maria Elementary opens.

Families whose children are rezoned will receive notifications. CCPS will also open a Special Parental Choice Priority Window in January 2026 — giving impacted families the first chance to request enrollment at another public school outside their new attendance zone.

Importantly, students already attending a school through approved parental-choice applications may remain at their current campus, even if their zone changes.

Bus transportation will be provided for rezoned students unless their home is within two miles of the assigned school and walking route is deemed safe.

What Local Families Should Watch

With the vote today, now’s the time for parents living near Oil Well Road, Estates area, and the surrounding zones to check the proposed maps. If you’re east of the boundary line, you may be moving to Ave Maria Elementary in 2026.

If you prefer to keep your child at their current school (or another school), mark the early January 2026 Parental Choice window and plan — capacity and demand will likely be high.

For families west of I-75 or in stable zones, little will change now, but the district is preparing for future growth, so staying aware of any future reviews may save surprises down the line.