Northwest Florida districts step up recruiting as public school enrollment declines

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Enrollment rates for Florida’s public schools are on the decline.

With the start of next school year still months away, Northwest Florida school district officials are pushing to recruit more kids.

Enrollment numbers for the Escambia County school district have been on the decline since the 2022-23 academic year.

According to the Florida Department of Education, numbers are down nearly six percent.

“This year what we budgeted for was about 33,000 students, which would be 300 less students than we had last year — and that’s just to be conservative,” superintendent Keith Leonard said.

State data shows in the last five years, Santa Rosa County is also down about six percent, while Okaloosa has dropped five percent.

It’s a trend that Escambia County school board member Paul Fetsko attributes to the Florida’s school voucher program.

“We are unfunded to the tune of over $3 million for the students who took a voucher but didn’t go to where the voucher was sent,” he said.

Leonard says the district is making an effort to bring students back to the district, as administrators are reaching out directly to parents.

The school district is also hosting events to expose families and students to their options.

“We want to continue to have a quality education system here in Escambia County,” Leonard said. “I think that’s what our citizens deserve.”

Santa Rosa County school officials are also encouraging families to get ahead on kindergarten enrollment.

“We hire teachers based on how many students we’re gonna have,” said April Martin, Santa Rosa County’s school district director of elementary education. “Sometimes parents will wait until July or actually right before the first day of school.”

School funding is based on student population.

Fetsko says there is speculation that some schools may be forced to consolidate or close if enrollment continues to drop.

It’s a decision we’ve seen recently in Okaloosa County with the closing of Longwood and Mary Esther elementary schools.

Leonard says there have not been any conversations about this becoming a reality in Escambia County.

“I’m not going to panic, but I’m certainly going to keep my thumb on the pulse each and every day,” Leonard said.

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