Florida’s public schools are witnessing a significant decline in enrollment numbers as there’s a surge in charter and private school registrations, influenced by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s school choice initiatives. Consequently, several public schools across the state are contemplating campus closures in response to the dwindling enrollment.
Duval County Public School District, among the top six school districts in Florida and the 20th largest in the U.S., is considering closures due to a dramatic drop in enrolment numbers. Broward County Public Schools, the state’s second largest school district, is potentially closing up to 42 campuses in the following years. Miami-Dade county is experiencing a similar trend.
Florida Governor DeSantis signed a bill in March 2023 promoting school choice for parents and students, eliminating restrictions related to financial eligibility and abolishing school enrollment caps.
Private school enrollment in Florida reportedly saw an increase of nearly 29,000 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade in 2023, compared to 2022. Throughout the past decade, school choice and private school enrollment have been on a steady rise in Florida, with more than 600 new private schools established since 2013, leading to approximately 120,000 students choosing private over public education.
The decreasing popularity of public schools in Florida can be attributed partly to the criticism they have faced for championing contentious social topics like critical race theory and controversial policies like prohibiting graduation ceremonies from being held in churches.