Broward schools mulling school closures over enrollment issues

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With recurring concern over declining student enrollment in its district, Broward County Public Schools may be forced into making the tough call of closing down some of its schools.

“Unfortunately, enrollment continues to decline in Broward County Public Schools,” Board Member Torey Alston told Florida’s Voice. “The board has directed the superintendent to turn this around by identifying families to return to the system and develop new innovative programs that will bring back families.”

According to Alston, 54,000 classrooms seats are unfilled across the district. Furthermore, another 4,000 desks are expected to be empty for the upcoming academic year.

In addressing the issue, Broward Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata recently proposed closing or repurposing five district schools by 2025. The district also has looked into other alternatives, including adding new programs, boundary adjustments and combining schools.

“As school districts across the nation face challenges due to under-enrollment, population changes and increased competition, BCPS remains focused and committed to making our District more innovative and responsive to the evolving educational needs in our communities,” the district said.

The district is composed of 332 schools and over 250,000 students, making it the sixth largest school district in the country. Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County, adjacent to Broward, also have student populations in the top 10.

Despite having large student populations, enrollment decline appears centered in South Florida to Broward exclusively.

“Both Palm Beach and Miami-Dade have enrollment increases,” Alston added, unsure of the reason behind the trend.

While Broward’s student population has gradually dropped, a recent state law giving parents more educational freedom might be fueling the fire.

In March 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded school choice options by signing HB 1. The law eliminates financial eligibility restrictions and the current enrollment cap.

“Florida is number one when it comes to education freedom and education choice, and today’s bill signing represents the largest expansion of education choice in the history of these United States,” DeSantis said at the time.”

The legislation was championed by Reps. Kaylee Tuck, R-Lake Placid, and Susan Plasencia, R-Orlando; and Sen. Cory Simon, R-Tallahassee.

Broward also has historically lagged behind Miami-Dade and Palm Beach in assessments given by the Florida Department of Education.

The district received a “B” grade by the department for the 2022-2023 school year. Broward also has maintained a “B” rating for nine consecutive years with its last “A” grade coming in 2011.

While Palm Beach also received a “B rating,” the district earned “A” grades in 2022, 2019 and 2018. Miami-Dade County also earned an “A” rating for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Grades were omitted in 2021.

Despite its lower marks, Pompano Beach High School, a magnet program in Broward, is listed as one of the best high schools in the country. The school has a four-day high school week with the fifth day for “additional academic enrichment, doing community service hours or internships.”

Broward has discussed implementing the success of Pompano Beach High School, which has a 100% graduation rate, to increase academic prestige at other schools.

“I’m intrigued by the innovative ways to increase academic time, enhance community service and improve learning again via a four day school week,” Alston said.