The solutions to Broward’s shrinking school enrollment problem will go beyond closing schools, Superintendent Howard Hepburn told School Board members on Tuesday.
A presentation prepared for a Tuesday School Board workshop included a list of 34 schools “to be considered” for action, but the presentation gave no details about what might happen to each school.
District officials have said the options have included changing the grade configuration of schools, adding new programs, changing boundaries and admission policies, partnering with community organizations to use portions of campuses and consolidating and closing schools.
The idea of closing schools has concerned many parents and community members. Several board members said Tuesday they see it as a necessity, although several said they didn’t have enough data yet to make any decisions.
Hepburn tried to allay the fears about school closures on Tuesday but provided no specifics on which schools might be on the chopping block, saying those decisions hadn’t been made yet.
“Redefining is not just about closing schools. It’s about prioritizing what matters most: Ensuring every student can receive a high-quality education and guaranteeing that we can continue to support and fairly compensate our dedicated employees,” Superintendent Howard Hepburn said.
He said the district officials will hold meetings with affected communities to get input before any final decisions are made. Any changes could start in the 2026-27 school year or later.
Some schools on the list of 34 don’t meet the district’s definition of being underenrolled and candidates for closures. These include Ramblewood Middle and Sawgrass Springs Middle in Coral Springs and Silver Trail Middle in Pembroke Pines, which are all close to 80% full.
“Some are permanently underenrolled year after year, some are not, but they may be in a cluster to support a discussion about possibilities for underenrolled schools. So that’s the reason for the 34” that are listed, Hepburn told the School Board.
Enrollment in Broward schools has dwindled by more than 35,000 in the past decade. An enrollment count taken on Friday revealed that the number of students attending this year is down 10,360 for traditional schools and 1,009 for charter schools. District officials and School Board members attribute that to the growth of school choice options, including private school vouchers, as well as Broward’s high cost of living.
“This is a crisis. This is a crisis of affordability. This is a crisis of what are we doing?” Board member Rebecca Thompson said.
Hepburn said the trend is happening in neighboring districts, too, with enrollment dropping about 25,000 in the three South Florida counties.
“To remain financially stable and strong for the future, we must right-size our district,” he said. “That means some difficult decisions will be necessary, including school closures. To clarify, the focus extends beyond school closures. It is centered on maintaining high standards of excellence for all children across every community in the region. for our county.”
He said the school district “will be transparent in every step of the way. We will engage with staff, parents, and community members directly. Together we will face this challenge and together we will shape a strong future for Broward County’s children.”
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