Collier County Public Schools Invests in Community’s Future as Fully Staffed Ave Maria Elementary Opens

AVE MARIA, FL – Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) celebrated the opening of Ave Maria Elementary School on July 30, 2026, marking a significant investment in one of the country’s fastest-growing communities and delivering on America’s Public Education Promise of providing every child in every community access to a highly effective education.

The new school, located at 4050 Anthem Parkway North, will welcome students on August 11. Ave Maria Elementary is the District’s 33rd elementary school and is expected to serve approximately 400 students during its inaugural year.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli, Superintendent of Schools; Blake Gable, CEO of Barron Collier Companies;

Dr. Ricciardelli and Blake Gable

Principal Bev Budzynski; and Assistant Principal Matt Sibert shared remarks celebrating the opening of the new campus. The event was emceed by Chad Oliver, Chief Communication Officer for Collier County Public Schools. Attendees also heard from three students who earned the opportunity to speak through a competitive audition process.

“We recognize an organization that understood the importance of ensuring Ave Maria families had access to outstanding public education,” said Dr. Ricciardelli during the ribbon-cutting event. “I want to thank Barron

Collier Companies CEO Blake Gable and his team for their support and partnership. This is what public education does. We don’t simply educate students, we help build communities, and no great school succeeds alone. Behind every success are people who choose to work together on behalf of children.” (Click Dropbox link for photo of Dr. Ricciardelli and Blake Gable.)

To prepare for the school’s opening, administrators attracted applications from across the country and conducted hundreds of interviews to build the school’s team. Ave Maria Elementary will welcome students on August 11 fully staffed. The campus includes infrastructure for future expansion should enrollment growth create a need for additional capacity and was designed specifically for the Ave Maria community. Reflecting the character of the Ave Maria community, CCPS included two dedicated golf cart drop-off and pick-up locations for families who travel to school by golf cart.

Enrollment at Ave Maria Elementary School is available throughout the year. Families can complete the enrollment process online through CCPS at collierschools.com/enroll.

Families who work in Ave Maria but live outside the school’s attendance zone may also have the opportunity for their children to attend Ave Maria Elementary through CCPS Parental Choice. Parents or legal guardians enrolling a student in the District for the first time have a one-time opportunity to apply for Parental Choice during the enrollment process. Applications are approved on a space-available basis, offering families the convenience of having their children attend school close to where they work.

Media Notes: News outlets unable to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony are encouraged to use the high-resolution photographs available through this Dropbox link. Photos may be published in connection with coverage of Ave Maria Elementary School with credit to Collier County Public Schools.

An Ave Maria Elementary School Fact Sheet is attached for total costs detailing this investment, design features, capacity information, and additional background. For more information about Ave Maria Elementary School, visit aes.collierschools.com.

About Collier County Public Schools

CCPS serves approximately 47,000 students, recently earned an A-rating for the ninth consecutive year, and is committed to delivering Proven Excellence, creating Opportunities Without Limits, ensuring Every Student Belongs, and graduating students who are Prepared for What’s Next.

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