BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Facing a sharp drop in enrollment, the Broward County School District — the nation’s sixth largest — is preparing to close or consolidate several schools across the county.

Enrollment has declined by 37,700 students in five years, including 10,000 in 2025, prompting the district to review underused campuses.

“People want to know, is my school closed or not?” said board member Rebecca Thompson. “We’re funding empty classrooms and maintaining buildings no one’s using.”

Proposals include merging or closing schools in Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs, with some campuses possibly converted for vocational or special education use.

“As we address declining enrollment, we have to have these difficult conversations,” said Dr. Valerie Wanza, chief of strategy and innovation.

Wanza said the district’s school choice window will open Monday as planned, and families affected by closures will have extra time — through January — to apply to other schools.

Broward schools consider closures amid sharp enrollment decline

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Jacey Birch