When the construction team first arrived at Mandarin High School in May 2024, the mission seemed straightforward: renovate and expand a campus that has been the pride of its Jacksonville neighborhood for more than 30 years. But over the next 14 months, the project grew into something much bigger—a shared experience that built not only classrooms but lasting connections within the Mustang community.

Mandarin High, which opened its doors in 1990, stands as Duval County’s third-largest high school, with more than 2,300 students. Thanks to the half-penny sales tax overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2020, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) rolled out its Bold Plan to modernize aging campuses. Mandarin High’s upgrade was among its flagship projects.

The scope was significant: a new 22,000-square-foot classroom building and a wide range of deferred maintenance improvements spread across the campus. As part of this effort, the construction team tackled projects large and small—from upgrading restrooms to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards to modernizing dressing rooms in the auditorium. Crews also replaced outdated HVAC systems in multiple classrooms, overhauled electrical infrastructure, improved drainage at the softball field, and installed a new Bi-Directional Amplifier/radio signal system to bring the entire campus up to code. All of this took place while school stayed in full swing—a feat that demanded tight coordination and minimal disruption to daily life.

High schools are never truly quiet, as the crew learned quickly. Early morning band practice, bustling hallways between classes, after-school games under the stadium lights—Mandarin was alive every hour of every day. The builders had to adapt to the pulse of the campus. Every delivery, every piece of equipment, every schedule shift was done with students and staff in mind.

At the center of the transformation was the new classroom wing. The addition was designed to expand the school’s specialized programs, housing state-of-the-art facilities for the Medical Academy and Culinary Arts track. Outfitted with simulation labs, collaborative study areas, and industry-standard kitchens, these new spaces are a leap forward for students dreaming of careers in healthcare and the culinary field. The goal was to make the facilities not only functional but inspiring—giving students tools to thrive long after graduation.

Still, for everyone involved, what mattered most wasn’t just what they built, but who they built it with. “Every day in construction is a challenge where you get to solve problems and keep moving forward,” said General Superintendent Jeremiah Perkins during one of many project meetings.

Throughout the project, Principal Bravo and Assistant Principal Durkin stood out as champions for students and tireless partners for the construction crews. “They worked with us through every schedule shift and unexpected hiccup, always with the goal of minimizing disruption for students and staff,” the team said. The crew wasn’t just tolerated—they were welcomed. They were invited to pep rallies, milestone ceremonies, and school celebrations. By the end of the project, they felt like part of the Mustang family.

As the final phase wraps up—removing 19 portable classrooms that have served for more than two decades and replacing them with a revitalized athletic practice field—the team is taking a moment to reflect on the impact. They’re proud of the new facilities, but even prouder of the trust built with the DCPS Facilities, Engineering, Design and Construction team, the Office of Economic Opportunity, Mims Construction, and dozens of local subcontractors and small businesses that made it possible.

The project also demonstrates what a local tax can achieve when communities and contractors work together. It provided opportunities for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses to grow alongside the district’s improvements—an outcome that strengthens Jacksonville’s economy as much as its schools.

When students return for the new school year, they’ll find modern spaces designed for collaboration and hands-on learning. But they’ll also inherit something less visible yet equally important: a campus that shows what happens when people solve challenges side by side and lift each other up along the way.

The Mandarin High story is proof that building schools is about more than bricks and mortar—it’s about building community.

Originally reported by Florida News Line.