ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools is considering closing seven school campuses because of low enrollment numbers.

What You Need To Know

Leaders at Orange County Public Schools are considering closing seven school campuses because of low enrollment numbers

According to the district, some factors contributing to the dip in enrollment are low birth rates, families opting for private school using the state’s voucher program and enforcement of immigration policies

This school year, OCPS has 5,539 fewer students — a 2.9% decrease. Over the past three years, enrollment has declined by more than 8,300 students

OCPS will have a work session on Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. at the OCPS building in downtown Orlando to discuss the schools that are being considered for consolidation

The Orange County School Board will meet Tuesday to discuss the issue as concerns are rising among parents of the schools on the short list.

“We are going to lose not only the school, but also a sense of belonging, of community, and when I think about that, my heart aches,” Angelica Rujano said in Spanish.

Rujano is the mom of two students who attend McCoy Elementary School — one of the seven schools on the list.

The seven schools that are being considered for consolidation include:

Union Park Middle School
Bonneville Elementary School
Chickasaw Elementary School
Orlo Vista Elementary School
Eccleston Elementary School
Meadow Woods Elementary School
McCoy Elementary School

Rujano said they first found out about the possible closure from a notification they received on ParentSquare, the app the district uses for all communications.

The message came from the school superintendent, saying they were hosting a meeting with parents to talk about enrollment.

“I’m the president of the school’s PTA, and when I found out that McCoy was on a list to be closed, we were left in limbo because we didn’t understand what was happening,” Rujano said in Spanish. “We thought they were just rumors, but we did everything we could to fill our cafeteria on the day of the meeting, and we were the school with the highest participation.”

This school year, OCPS has 5,539 fewer students — a 2.9% decrease, according to district officials. Over the past three years, enrollment has declined by more than 8,300 students, they said.

“As the enrollment in a school gets smaller and smaller, the funding — which means the resources, the support and the opportunities — also decrease,” said Stephanie Vanos, school board member for District 6. “And so in order to ensure that all of our students have access to those opportunities, resources and funding, we need to, you know, consolidate schools so that our students aren’t harmed.” 

The district estimates a loss of $41 million this year, which affects staffing, programs and the ability to maintain facilities.

Rujano said at a recent meeting parents were presented with numbers showing enrollment at McCoy had declined over the years; however, it had stabilized.

“The question we parents were asking is, why now? We’ve basically had the same students for eight or 10 years, and we’ve been able to do it and provide a quality education,” Rujano said in Spanish.

According to the district, several factors contribute to lower enrollment numbers, including demographic changes, lower birth rates, expansion of school vouchers and federal immigration policy changes.

“I personally know of many cases of children who left school, even the country, due to immigration issues, so there was a percentage of children who left for that reason,” Rujano said in Spanish. “I also know of many cases of children who are homeschooled, which also affects the situation, since those are children who are not attending school in person.”

Vanos said OCPS is exploring options, such as school consolidation, guided by criteria that prioritize student needs, minimize disruption and ensure transparency. District officials said the goal is to work collaboratively with families and school communities to make thoughtful and strategic decisions that strengthen educational opportunities for all students.

“We need to protect the children that are in our public schools. And we do that by consolidating. So even though I know it’s hard, I do feel like it will be in the best interests of our children in the end,” Vanos said.

Rujano worries that if the school closes, the families would lose the community they’ve created.

Ten days ago, she started a petition called “Stop the closure of Michael McCoy Elementary School.” So far, 1,550 parents at the school have signed the petition.

“We are not just a number on a graph,” Rujano said in Spanish. “We are not talking about a business where you have to look at what you receive and what you are losing; we are talking about community, and we deserve not only to be heard but also to be respected, so that the voice of the parents and the community is included in the decision they are going to make.”

Vanos encouraged parents from all seven affected schools to join this week’s work session.

“I’m a parent. I understand you being concerned. I think the best thing you can do is to attend the meetings, attend the work session. Even if you don’t speak, just come to get information, because I think the more information you have … it will make you feel better and just more secure knowing what to expect,” Vanos said.

On Tuesday, the school board will have a work session beginning at 1 p.m. at the OCPS building in downtown Orlando to discuss the schools that are being considered for consolidation.