School district officials are meeting with south Hillsborough County residents about a possible new high school. 

Lennard and East Bay high schools serve the growing Ruskin community on the southern edge of Hillsborough County. But school leaders are looking at the idea of a third high school for the area — the fastest growing portion of the county. 

Lorraine Suarez, the Growth Management and Planning Chief for Hillsborough County Schools, said that even after adding buildings to both Lennard and East Bay, both schools are still overcrowded. 

According to the school district, Lennard is 116 percent full and East Bay 100 percent. A proposed new high school, north of Balm Road and east of U.S. 301, could accommodate 2,300 to 2,400 students. 

The property was originally slated to be a middle school, but after evaluating the growth, school officials decided they need a high school much more. And with homebuilders targeting the area for current and future development, it won't be hard to find students to fill another high school. 

However, the idea of a new school in the area is only at the proposed stage. 

Hillsborough County commissioners and the school board still need to discuss and vote on the measure, mainly because the land was initially mandated for a middle school. 

Then, there is also the matter of a $50 million price tag.

A best-case scenario could have a new school in the area by 2020.