ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County parent is raising concerns about what she says are constant fights happening after school hours near Carver Middle School.
The parent says students gather just off campus for the fights, which appear to be happening in Orange County, while the school resource officer is with the Orlando Police Department.
All Florida schools are required to report on-campus incidents each year to the Florida Department of Education, which compiles the information in the School Environmental Safety Incident Report.
According to that state data, Carver Middle reported 72 fights and 16 battery incidents during the 2024-25 school year. The year before, the school reported 73 fights and 23 battery incidents.
The data also shows a similar pattern at nearby schools.
During the 2024-25 school year, Memorial Middle School reported 71 fights and 42 battery cases. College Park Middle School reported 81 fights and 67 battery cases that same year.
The state defines fights as “two or more persons mutually participating in the use of force or physical violence that requires either physical intervention or results in injury requiring first aid or medical attention.”
Battery reports are described as “an actual and intentional touching or striking of another person against his or her will.”
The situation also raises questions about jurisdiction.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the area around the school includes Orange County and Orlando Police Department jurisdiction. The sheriff’s office also said that school resource officers are required by state law to remain on school property from bell to bell.
OPD, which provides the school resource officer for Carver Middle, said it “remains in close communication with partner agencies responsible for areas outside OPD’s jurisdiction.”
The school district said it is aware of the fights, but that they are not within the school’s jurisdiction because they occur off school property and outside school hours.
On Wednesday, a Channel 9 crew drove through the area where the fights are allegedly happening and saw an Orange County deputy drive through the street twice around the time school was being let out.
One county commissioner said the location of the fights may be intentional.
“The kids know where to go to be able to make their videos and fight. And a lot of times these things are planned. I’ve seen flyers that plan, hey, meet up at the spot, fighting between young ladies or young guys,” Orange County Commissioner Mike Scott said.
The parent who filmed some of the fight videos also spoke with Channel 9 about the situation.
Read that story here.
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