Florida Public School Districts Shouldn’t Keep Private and Charter Schools From Utilizing Empty Public Facilities |
Jupiter Christian School, located 22 miles north of Palm Beach, Florida, has 700 students on its waiting list. The head of Grandview Prep, also near Palm Beach, reports that the number of applications to private schools in the area increased by almost 50% between 2017-2018 and 2022-2023. A charter school that serves students in grades K-8 near the heart of Orlando reports just three open seats and only across the sixth-eighth grades.
In sum: There is high demand for private schools and public charter schools in Florida.
Meanwhile, at least two traditional school districts in Florida are reporting thousands of open seats, and taxpayers are paying for school buildings with declining enrollment.
Last week, Orange County Public School officials announced that so many students are leaving the district that administrators could close seven buildings—paving the way for private and charter school operators to gain access to the facilities. One Orange County middle school on the list of underused........