ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Thousands fewer students are enrolled in Orange County Public Schools, and new numbers point to a significant decline among immigrant students, raising questions about the role of immigration-related fears and what the district can do to reverse the trend.<\/p>\n
In October 2025, OCPS had more than 182,000 students. That number has since fallen to about 174,000 \u2014 a drop of roughly 8,000 students. About 5,000 of those students were immigrants, according to new data provided to News 6 from OCPS.<\/p>\n
The following data was collected regarding the enrollment decline as a result of TPS changes. The district experienced a total decline of 6,328 students during the two-year period.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Number of immigrant students at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year – 19,539<\/p>\n
Number of immigrant students at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year – 18,517<\/p>\n
Number of immigrant students at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year – 13,211<\/p>\n
Vanos said some families have left the area, while others may still be in Central Florida but are afraid to send their children to school.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies are afraid to be here,\u201d Vanos said, explaining that some parents do not feel safe leaving home or enrolling their children in school.<\/p>\n
[WATCH: 98 Orange County Public Schools educators unassigned after enrollment drop, budget changes]<\/p>\n
The decline is particularly noticeable among some immigrant communities. The number of Haitian students in the district fell by about 715 over the past year.<\/p>\n
Enrollment among Venezuelan students has also dropped sharply. Two years ago, OCPS had more than 4,900 Venezuelan students. Today, that number is about 1,900.<\/p>\n
Vanos said the end of temporary protected status for some immigrant groups may be one factor behind the decline. She also said uncertainty may be keeping families from moving to the area in the first place.<\/p>\n
The district has hired a consulting firm to help attract more students. But Vanos acknowledged that recruitment efforts may have limited impact if families do not feel safe.<\/p>\n
[WATCH: Orange County schools face millions in budget cuts as fewer students attend]<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably they\u2019re not going to be persuaded to come back based on outreach from a firm or even door-to-door knocking,\u201d Vanos said.<\/p>\n
Immigration concerns are not the only possible factor affecting enrollment. Florida expanded its school voucher program in 2023, giving families more options for their children\u2019s education. Demographic changes, including low birth rates, may also contribute to enrollment declines.<\/p>\n
The enrollment figures discussed by the district do not include charter schools.<\/p>\n
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