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Since COVID, Florida Outpaces National Percentage Increase in Charter School Enrollment New Study also Shows Florida Charter Schools Post Greater Growth in Black and Hispanic Student Enrollment FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 15, 2024) -- A recently-released study by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools shows that since COVID took hold during the 2019-2020 school year, Florida’s charter schools have increased their overall student enrollment at a higher rate than charter schools nationally. During the four years from the 2019-2020 school year through the 2022-2023 school year, charter schools in Florida posted an increase in enrollment of 53,148 students, or 16.14 percent. Nationally, the percentage increase was nine percent, with an increase of more than 300,000 students across all 50 states. Florida’s total enrollment of charter school students increased from 329,219 in 2019-2020 to 382,367 in 2022-2023.
At the same time, Florida saw a decrease in student enrollment at non-charter schools of 1.64 percent, less than the 3.5 percent dip posted nationally. During that four-year period, Florida’s overall population of school-age children rose by 3.09 percent. Florida also posted strong percentage increases in the enrollment of black and Hispanic students at its charter schools. During the same four-year period from 2019 through 2022, Florida’s charter schools added 30,909 Hispanic students, an increase of 21.28 percent. From 2019 through 2022, Florida saw an increase of 10.64 percent in enrollment of black students at its charter schools, with the overall number growing from 64,126 students to 70,949, an increase of 6,823. Nationally, that percentage increase was about six percent. The National Alliance study showed that charter school enrollment increased in 40 of 42 states during the period from 2019 through 2023. Texas gained the most charter school students – 67,148 students -- during that time. Florida was second among the states. According to the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools, Florida’s strong growth in enrollment at its charter schools underscores the overall success of the charter school movement in the state. “Florida continues to be a national leader in the growth of its charter schools,” said Robert Haag, President of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools. “The Consortium congratulates everyone involved in Florida’s charter school movement. Their hard work is making a big difference.” About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. ### |