When school begins again Wednesday, there will be 2,000 students studying in a new place.
Earlier this year, the Brevard County School Board voted to close Gardendale and South Lake elementary schools, along with Clearlake Middle School, despite protests from many parents.
Now for the first time, Cocoa High has 7th through 12th graders under the same roof.
More than 500 7th and 8th grade former Clearlake Middle students are now a part of the 69-acre campus.
“Our families are so excited to have multiple kids in one school,” said Cocoa High Principal Stephanie Soliven.
“Naturally I am concerned. There are a lot of older students here, said Peter Wells, a parent.
Wells now has two children attending classes at Cocoa High – a son entering 10th grade, and his 12-year-old daughter in 7th grade.
“I've told her to be aware of her surroundings, and she's got a big brother here to help her out,” Wells said.
For a couple of cheerleaders, it means sisters are teaming up in the same place, and the veteran high schoolers being there for their younger siblings.
Lexi Moore and Makayla Morgan both have sisters heading into 8th grade.
“Because they could get into trouble, and we can help them,” Moore and Morgan said.
The younger and older kids likely won't cross paths that much, especially with the age gap ranging from 11 to 18.
The middle schoolers have renovated classrooms at the front of the campus. Math, science and other core classes will be taught in the same area.
Seventh and 8th graders will also eat lunch together.
“There are some unique things that are part of middle school culture that we did not want students to lose,” Soliven said.
Cocoa High hired 35 new teachers to meet the increased enrollment.
Many of them, along with new staff, worked at Clearlake Middle.