Babcock Neighborhood School receives an ‘A’ from the state of Florida – and from homebuyers
Babcock Neighborhood School, the new public charter school located at the heart of the nation’s first solar-powered town, earned an “A” in its first annual Florida Standards Assessment. It has also earned high marks from Babcock Ranch homebuyers Bethany and Jerry Hunt, whose children Connor, 9, and Peyton, 6, will start classes at Babcock Neighborhood School in August.
The Hunts relocated to Southwest Florida from Pittsburgh in 2015 and purchased a home off Treeline Avenue in Fort Myers. While they weren’t planning to make another move, the Disney World Annual pass holders drove regularly on State Road 31 on their way to Orlando – and watched Babcock Ranch grow from the ground up.
“We were intrigued,” said Bethany Hunt, citing both the appeal of the school now ranked as the top elementary school in Charlotte County and the hometown community feeling they experienced when visiting Babcock Ranch.
“Now, we’re getting the opportunity to build our dream house in this amazing neighborhood,” said Hunt. “The school is what sealed the deal.”
The Hunt’s home is underway in Lake Timber, a neighborhood of 220 single-family lake- and preserve-view homes within walking distance to the amenities and activities at the heart of Babcock Ranch, Founder’s Square.
They selected the Sterling, a 2,660-square-foot design that offers three bedrooms, three baths, and a flexible den and study that can be optioned as additional bedroom suites.
The Hunts plan to move into their new home in January, bringing along their cat and two dogs.
“My husband is super excited about the dog park, too,” said Hunt.
When Babcock Ranch was conceived, education was identified as one of the eight core initiatives that guided planning decisions.
“Babcock Ranch is a town where learning is a passion,” said town founder Syd
Kitson, chairman, and CEO of Kitson & Partners.
“The innovative curriculum allowed us to attract truly outstanding teachers who are inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators who will grow up at Babcock Ranch,” Kitson said.
Months before the first residents were due to arrive in the new town, Babcock Neighborhood School welcomed a full roster of students from kindergarten through sixth grade. This August, the school population will more than double when classes open in the brand new, full-size K-8 facility that was fast-tracked to accommodate the many families who are now moving in. BNS will add a seventh grade for the 2018-19 school year, and eighth grade the following year.
Babcock Ranch was created by Kitson & Partners with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand. Half of the town’s 18,000-acre footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and expansive lakes, providing recreation and scenic backdrops for Babcock Ranch’s homes and the Founder’s Square downtown district.
Emphasizing a front-porch lifestyle to nurture a sense of community, Babcock Ranch promotes healthy living through a walkable community plan, 50 miles of planned biking and hiking trails, interconnected lakes for paddling enthusiasts, a robust calendar of exercise classes, and the Healthy Life Center managed by Lee Health at Founder’s Square, with health club facilities, nutrition counseling, therapeutic services, and medical offices opening in late summer.
Table & Tap restaurant, Slater’s Goods and Provisions, Square Scoops Coffee & Creamery, Curry Creek Outfitters, and Babcock Neighborhood School welcomed the greater community to Founder’s Square even before the arrival of the town’s first residents in early January. A sprawling downtown park offers a lakefront bandshell, boardwalk, covered pavilions, and charging stations for electronics, including cars. An autonomous shuttle – part of the town’s mobility plan – provides transportation between homes and Founder’s Square. And with plans to expand into On Demand services, goods delivery, and hourly/daily car rentals within the next year, Babcock Ranch will continue offering compelling mobility solutions that reduce the need for car ownership in the new town.
Babcock Ranch has eight homebuilders offering more than 50 home designs including twin villas, cottages, single-family executive, manor and custom homes featuring one- and two-story plans, two to six bedrooms, and 1,400 to 4,761 square feet of living space. Homes appeal to young millennials, families, empty nesters and retirees alike, with prices ranging from the $190,000s to $1 million. Homes are built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards, emphasizing energy and water conservation, and offer a full gigabyte of fiber-optic connectivity.
More than 30 model and quick-delivery homes are now open or under construction by Castle Harbour Homes, Florida Lifestyle Homes, Fox Premier Builders, Lennar, Pulte Homes, Solara Homes by Banroc, and Stock Classic Homes. Many models are open for viewing daily.
For more information about Southwest Florida’s new hometown, located just northeast of Fort Myers off Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31, visit the Discovery Center at 42850 Crescent Loop in Babcock Ranch, call 877-709-6620, or visit www.BabcockRanch.com.
Contact: Tina Matte, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and PR, 239-275-5758, Tina@GSMA.pro