Math class at 10 a.m.; flying a plane at noon. That’s a day in the life of some students at Northeast High School in Broward County, Florida.
“Our two instructors are both retired fighter pilots who have been in combat,” Anthony Valachovic, the principal at Northeast High School, told Business Insider.
At Millennium 6-12 Collegiate Academy, Gastride Harrigan, the school’s principal, highlighted the school’s STEAM program as a big selling point for students. An added bonus: students can receive a free associate degree alongside their high school diplomas.
“The goal is just to continue to excel and grow the program, and we’re seeing higher interests,” Harrigan told Business Insider. “The question becomes now, do we take all these kids, and will we have the space? We are in a unique situation compared to a lot of schools, and that is a blessing.”
Broward County saw a 4.7% enrollment decline from the previous academic year. As a result, the county compiled a list of 34 underenrolled schools to review, with some at risk of closing or consolidating.
Nationwide, public school enrollment challenges persist. Factors such as the growth of the school voucher movement, declining birth rates, high costs of living, and immigration challenges are pushing some families out of the public school system.
Business Insider visited five public schools in Broward County that have successfully avoided enrollment declines. Teachers and administrators partly credit their success to the unique programs they offer.
“It’s very rewarding for students who know they want to go into the field,” one educator noted.
**‘I Always Feel the Competition’**
Coral Cove Academy of the Arts in Broward County transitioned from a K-5 to a K-8 school earlier this year. This change was highly requested by parents to allow educational continuity up until high school.
The move has paid off: 513 students enrolled in Coral Cove Academy as of the 10th day of the current academic year, compared to 443 a year prior.
“If I didn’t have the option of keeping him in a K-8, I probably wouldn’t go into public education for middle school,” said Gabriela Marte, whose son is in fourth grade at Coral Cove. “I would probably look into a charter or a private school.”
However, pressures from neighboring schools remain.
“I always feel the competition,” Stephanie Saban, Coral Cove’s principal, told Business Insider. “There’s no shortage of charter schools and private schools, so I’m always feeling that.”
Public school is still the primary choice for many parents. In the fall of 2023, 49.5 million students were enrolled in public schools, compared to 4.7 million students enrolled in private schools in the fall of 2021—the most recent year data was collected.
Yet, outside factors—some uncontrollable, like declining birth rates—place heightened pressure on public schools to continue bolstering their programs and responding to community needs.
Louis Kushner, principal at Apollo Middle School in Broward County, shared that he has ongoing conversations with parents considering local private schools. His goal? To demonstrate that their children’s needs would be best met in the public school system.
Apollo’s robotics program, Kushner said, is a big attraction because it requires problem-solving and independence—critical skills for students aspiring to enter STEM fields.
At Everglades Elementary School, it’s the debate program that stands out and draws parents in.
Eliot Tillinger, Everglades’ principal, said he has approved over 150 school choice reassignments, where families come from outside the school’s boundaries to enroll.
“We’re doing some endeavors that historically have been reserved only for high school, notably the debate team,” Tillinger explained. “And the fact that we’re doing it at the elementary level, exposing them at a younger age, helps them get comfortable speaking before a crowd. It’s just a tremendous benefit.”
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-public-school-principals-address-enrollment-declines-florida-2025-10
