Number of pupils increases

Improving school grades, aggressive marketing and a breadth of specialty programs helped South Florida’s traditional schools retain students this year amid a growing number of choices, district officials say.

In Broward and Palm Beach counties, school districts started with more students this year than last. Charter schools, on the other hand, opened with fewer students — but that may be due to some closures. Miami-Dade schools do not post early enrollment figures.

“We outperform almost every charter school around and that means a lot to parents,” said Peter Licata, assistant superintendent for Choice and Innovation in Palm Beach County.

The school choice movement gained major political support this year. A law enacted this year promotes charter school expansion and provides more funding for private school scholarships. In addition, this year marked the first time Florida school districts were required to allow students to attend schools outside their assigned boundaries or county lines.

And, as always, parents have the option of home schooling, virtual school and private school, whose enrollment numbers are not made public until spring.

Douglas Laurie, vice president of American Heritage School, said the private school has consistently attracted enough students to meet capacity and create a waiting list. About 4,500 enrolled this year between the Plantation and Delray Beach campuses.

“I was a little concerned when charter schools first came around 20-something years or so,” he said. “But we just haven’t seen any negative effect on our school. It has been good for the community.”

Palm Beach County traditional schools added about 2,900 students while charter schools lost about 940. Enrollment at the Broward school district was up by about 680 students. About 270 fewer students enrolled