Broward County Public Schools had about 12,300 fewer students compared to last year, according to the latest data from the district.
In comparison, the Palm Beach County School District lost nearly 7,000
students at the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
Both border districts are still among the highest-enrolled public school districts in the country, with Broward now at about 224,324 and Palm Beach County at 173,155. Both totals include those students enrolled in charter schools.
Broward saw an overall loss of 12,343 students compared to last year, according to a Sept. 16 report released by the district. Charter schools lost 2,071 students year-over-year, dropping from 48,820 to 46,749. District schools lost 10,272 students, dropping from 187,847 to 177,575.
Palm Beach County education news
Broward voted to close or repurpose schools
Partly due to precipitous drops in enrollment and the resulting loss of funds, Broward's school district previously voted to close and/or repurpose a series of schools that were under-enrolled, and is currently considering the closures of another 10.
So far, Palm Beach County has not announced any school closures but, as The Palm Beach Post reported, the district has eliminated 1,200 positions — a far higher number than previously disclosed — and is recommending a salary freeze for teachers and non-instructional staff this school year, according to Superintendent Mike Burke.
"Our district is navigating a severe revenue shortfall due to minimal state funding and declining student enrollment," Burke wrote in a note to employees Sept. 29.
The annual August count of students found that enrollment was down by nearly 7,000 students from the year before. That figure, more twice the decline district officials expected, came on the heels of an enrollment decline of more than 6,000 students in August 2025.
Broward County sought feedback on potential school closures
Broward County Public Schools asked for community feedback on the potential closure of several schools.
Currently, 10 schools in the Florida district are being considered for closure as part of the 2026-2027 "Redefining our Schools" initiative, according to a presentation shared during an Aug. 25 school board workshop, though the idea of possibly adding another 10 was floated during the meeting.
According to the district's website, a series of meetings discussing the schools was scheduled throughout September, with "parents, students, employees and community members" invited to attend to have "conversations about the future of schools" throughout the district.
The Broward County School Board previously voted to close and consolidate six schools in January of this year.
The schools suggested for closure and/or consolidation are as follows, according to the presentation contained in the Oct. 6 agenda:
- Dolphin Bay Elementary, located in Miramar. Students would be transitioned into Glades Middle School, located in Miramar, with the grades at Glades Middle School extended to serve kindergarten through eighth grade.
- Silver Lakes Elementary, located in Miramar. Students would be transitioned into Glades Middle School, located in Miramar, with the grades at Glades Middle School extended to serve kindergarten through eighth grade.
- Hollywood Park Elementary, located in Hollywood. Its students would be transitioned into Boulevard Heights Elementary and West Hollywood Elementary, both located in Hollywood. The school board also discussed "another consolidation option that keeps Hollywood Park ES open" with the community.
- Oakridge Elementary, located in Hollywood. Its students would be transitioned to Colbert Elementary and Dania Elementary, the former located in Hollywood and the latter located in Dania Beach, Florida.
- Coral Springs Elementary, located in Coral Springs. Its students would be transitioned to Eagle Ridge Elementary and Parkside Elementary, both located in Coral Springs.
- Forest Glen Middle School, located in Coral Springs. The nearby Coral Park Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, James S. Hunt Elementary and Park Springs Elementary would have their grades extended to cover grade 6, and the grades of Coral Springs High School would be extended to cover grades seven through 12.
- Lloyd Estates Elementary, located in Oakland Park. Students would be transitioned to Cypress Elementary and Oakland Park Elementary, the former located in Pompano Beach and the latter located in Oakland Park.
- Banyan Elementary, located in Sunrise. Students would be transitioned to Discovery Elementary and Village Elementary, both located in Sunrise.
- Walter C. Young Middle, located in Pembroke Pines. Students would be transitioned into Pines 6-12 and Silver Trail Middle, both located in Pembroke Pines. Another option would have students transition to Charles W. Flanagan High School, located in Pembroke Pines, creating a school that serves grades six through 12.
- William E. Dandy Middle, located in Fort Lauderdale. Students would be transitioned to Parkway Middle, located in Lauderhill, Florida. Another option would involve transitioning the middle school students at Dillard 6-12, located in Fort Lauderdale, into Parkway Middle. Dillard would return to a school serving grades nine through 12, and William. E. Dandy Middle would remain a school serving grades six through eight.
- Sunset Lakes Elementary, located in Miramar, would become a school serving kindergarten through eighth grade.
Florida public schools have seen drops in student enrollment
The five largest school districts in Florida by enrollment, including Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, collectively lost about 67,000 non-charter students from the 2023-2024 school year through the 2025-2026 school year.
That’s according to figures compiled by the Lee County school district, provided in May as part of a discussion surrounding its “budget realignment.” The numbers are as of February 2026, and refer to total membership for grades from PreK-12.
From 2023-2024 to 2024-2025, Miami-Dade Public Schools lost 6,947 non-charter students and gained 1,331 charter students. From 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, the district lost 15,288 non-charter students and gained 428 charter students. In February, the district had 232,617 non-charter students enrolled for the 2025-2026 year, along with 86,802 charter students.
It’s a dip that WLRN previously reported has been frequently attributed to Florida’s expanded voucher program, which allowed for the rapid growth of charter and private schools. Miami-Dade County officials, however, said the drop is partially due to fewer immigrant families moving to South Florida.
In Broward County, meanwhile, the district lost 9,512 non-charter students from 2023-2024 to 2024-2025 and gained 68 charter school students. From 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, the district lost 6,955 non-charter students and 1,328 charter students. The district had 185,864 non-charter students enrolled at the start of the 2025-2026 year, as well as 48,460 charter students.
Collectively, the Broward and Miami-Dade school districts lost 38,702 non-charter students from 2023-2024 through 2025-2026.
Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: This nearby school district is down 12,300 students, way more than PBC
