Orange County school district expects to enroll 5K new students

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Public Schools said it expects more than 5,000 new students to enroll in its schools ahead of the upcoming school year.

Parents may visit the school district's enrollment office on Magic Way or the school for which their student is zoned if they have everything completed on their enrollment checklist.

Parent Ana Burleson said it's hard to believe how quickly the summer break has gone by.

"It went by fast this summer, she said. "It always does."

She said got a head start on registering her 6-year-old son, Jonah, to try to avoid the crowds.

"It's always nerve-wracking," she said. "Are they going to be able to make it into the class that is not already full?"

OCPS began last school year with 203,000 students. That number is expected to grow by 5,000 students this school year.

"The west side of town is seeing the largest influx of students right now," district spokesman Scott Howat said. "That would be the Horizons West area, Windermere, Apopka, those areas. We are also seeing very high growth in the Lake Nona area."

OCPS seeks to hire teachers, bus drivers and crossing guards to accommodate the growing student body.

Parents who register their students by Aug. 2 will likely secure a spot at their respective school.

Enrollment appointments may be scheduled online typically three to five days in advance.

Cox Media Group