Osceola County has one of the lowest college enrollment rates in the state, but that could change next year with a new Valencia College campus in Poinciana.

  • Valencia College campus to open in Poinciana in fall of 2017
  • Construction and planning for the project is about $27 million

Imagine taking a bus for more than five hours to get to and from school every day. You might think that is happening in a remote country, but it's happening in Poinciana.

Alexandrea Castro, who recently graduated from Valencia's campus in Osceola County, is familiar with the commute.

"I would have to call the neighborhood LYNX, which is like the little bus, to then get on the 426, to then get on the 26, to then get on the 18 or the 10 — whichever one came first to then go to Valencia," Castro said.

Castro will soon have more options closer to home, though.

Community leaders broke ground Thursday on what is now an empty field in Poinciana. In a year, though, it's expected to become Valencia's newest campus.

It's being built between Pleasant Hill and Reaves roads. Construction and planning for the project is about $27 million.

Kathleen Plinske, the president of the Valencia campus for Osceola, Lake Nona and now Poinciana, added: "The high schools in Poinciana have the lowest college-going rates within the county. And we believe that has everything to do with the lack of access."

Osceola County donated 40 acres of land to help make the Poinciana campus a possibility.

"Being able to take that cost off the table and provide the land free of charge to Valencia, we're able to break ground on a campus four years later, which is an amazing feat for our community," Osceola County Commissioner Brandon Arrington said.

It might be a little too late for Castro, but she hopes her siblings can take advantage of the new campus.

"I feel like it's going to make all the difference, and I can't wait to see it grow," she said. "It's going to look beautiful, and hopefully, if we're still here, my brother and sister can enjoy it."

The Poinciana campus is set to open in the fall of 2017 and is expected to serve about 2,500 degree-seeking students, as well as up to 1,000 students seeking job training.