ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orange County school board voted to close seven public schools during a public hearing that was the last time parents and the community could plead to keep the schools open.
The meeting was at 5 p.m. at the school district headquarters in downtown Orlando.
[RELATED: Why is Orange County’s student enrollment falling? Depends on who you ask]
Orange County Public Schools voted to close six elementary schools and one middle school across the county:
- Bonneville Elementary, in the Lake Pickett area of east Orange County
- Chickasaw Elementary, in the Azalea Park area of east Orange County
- Eccleston Elementary, in west Orange County in the Richmond Heights area
- McCoy Elementary, near Orlando International Airport
- Meadow Woods Elementary, in south Orange County near State Road 417
- Orlo Vista Elementary, in west Orange County off of Kirkman Road
- Union Park Middle, in east Orange County near Dean Road and East Colonial Drive
[WATCH: ‘Potential use’ plans unveiled for 7 Orange County schools up for closure]
The schools will close starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
District data shows enrollment has steadily declined at each of the campuses in recent years.
At Bonneville Elementary School, for example, enrollment dropped from about 455 students in early 2023 to roughly 360 students this year, a decrease of about 95 students.
Similar declines include:
- Chickasaw Elementary: about 390 students in 2023 to about 315 in 2026
- Eccleston Elementary: about 365 students in 2023 to about 334 in 2026
- McCoy Elementary: about 505 students in 2023 to about 425 in 2026
- Meadow Woods Elementary: about 470 students in 2023 to about 395 in 2026
- Orlo Vista Elementary: about 405 students in 2023 to about 335 in 2026
- Union Park Middle School: about 760 students in 2023 to about 650 in 2026
Altogether, the proposed closures will impact about 3,200 students, who need to be reassigned to different schools.
Board members each recognized that the decision was not just financial, but emotional too.
“It’s hard to close schools,” said Angie Gallo. “It’s hard for students to know that they could be separated from their friends.”
Superintendent Maria Vazquez called it “one of the most difficult days” during her time at OCPS. She also shared that the district is now looking at projections that show they expect to lose 5,000 more students.
“I wish I could sit here and tell you it’s the end,” said Vazquez. “Sadly, it is not the end.”
District leaders say declining enrollment also has significant financial consequences. Orange County Public Schools reported losing about $41 million in state funding this year, which is tied directly to student enrollment.
News 6 has spoken to parents at several schools over the last few months, and all of them are upset about the plans.
“It still doesn’t make sense to me, honestly. I think it should stay open,” said parent Dehavellin Williams said back in January. “I really just feel like they should just open up the zone more and then they would have more kids honestly, like it’s too many schools over here for kids to be going so far.”
Eccleston Elementary parent Lexus Cutter told News 6’s Jarell Baker in February that the school’s closure means students could now have to walk nearly 50 minutes if rezoned to the nearest campus, Washington Shores Elementary.
“The safety, the traffic that’s going on with this route the kids have to take — will they even make it to school?” Cutter said.
[WATCH: Eccleston Elementary School’s closure could lengthen students’ commute, parents fear]
The district cites declining enrollment as the reason to close the schools, which they blame on a combination of birthrates, immigration policy and aging neighborhoods.
The district also blames the dramatic expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools and homeschooling for all students, regardless of income.
The district said school enrollment dropped by nearly 7,000 students at the beginning of 2025-2026 school year.
Superintendent Maria Vazquez said more school closures could be coming because more enrollment declines are expected.
“We are projected, I believe, for another 5000 students next year, so while I wish I could say this is the last of the consolidations,” Vazquez said in January.