Thank you for prompting me to do further research. Windermere's situation in 2017 is too difficult to research, although your facts are accurate. Innovation applied for and received an exemption to the 3-year waiting period per the exemptions provided in Bylaws 3.4.1.1.4 & 3.4.1.2.4 -- A newly opening school created by the consolidation or division of the student populations of existing member schools is exempt from the application and provisional periods if a) the new school is governed by the same Board as the existing member schools; and b) the new school meets all other qualifications and conditions of membership. This exemption allowed Innovation to compete in FHSAA championship series/competition in the 2024-25 year, as the girls' soccer team did (although the football team elected to compete as an independent). This exemption could possibly apply to PSL Legacy and any other newly opening schools which meet the above criteria. Sorry for any confusion I may have created.
Windermere HS had a varsity team and was part of a district when the school first opened in 2017. Also, Innovation HS is in its first year of existence and the girls soccer team won districts and made a playoff run this year.
The FHSAA Bylaws don't distinguish between traditional public schools, charter schools, private schools or university laboratory schools, so I'm almost certain this process applies to all schools applying for FHSAA membership. I know in the past that schools have applied for a waiver to the 3-year waiting period, but there are no provisions for such a waiver in the FHSAA Bylaws, and I'm not aware of a waiver ever being approved.