ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County School District is taking new steps to make sure students have a seat in their neighborhood school.
Some families told Channel 9’s Michael Lopardi they’re worried their child could be forced out by two magnet programs.
The magnet program at Hillcrest Elementary in Orlando allows students to focus on foreign languages, which was a bonus for parent Katie Boen.
“We saw this school and we loved it. It had really great ratings and that was one of the choices in where we decided to live,” Boen said.
Hillcrest and nearby Howard Middle School, a visual and performing arts magnet, will soon become the district's first zoneless magnet schools. That means new students who aren't interested in the magnet programs will be sent to other schools, even if they live nearby. That's upset families who feel they could get pushed out.
"We're really doing it to open up seats for families that want that form of concentration for their student,” said Nancy Robbinson, vice chair of the Orange County school board.
To address the concerns, the district intends to give preference to students currently zoned for the school. The plan is to set aside 25 percent of the seats in the lowest grade level.
“We want them to have the opportunity to have a chance to get in,” Robbinson said.
Parents we spoke with like the preference, but feel the number should be higher than 25 percent.
“I think more kids should be given an opportunity,” Boen said.
The district will use a lottery to determine who gets in. And Robbinson told Eyewitness News that no one will be forced out. Students who are currently enrolled, but not interested in the magnet, will get to finish their term.
The changes are expected to take effect around fall of 2018, when two new schools open.
The district said students from Hillcrest would attend the new Lake Como School nearby. Students from Howard Middle would be split among several schools.
Cox Media Group
