In Florida, more than 70,000 Black students are enrolled in public charter schools,
making up about 18% of the state’s charter school population.
February 2026 – Florida charter schools have expanded educational choices and serve as engines for innovation and community-aligned schooling for many Black families. Black students made up about 18.4 percent of all students in Florida charter schools (www.fldoe), with 70,280 Black studentsenrolled out of roughly 381,000 total charter students. In fact, charter schools statewide serve a high proportion of minority students, with about 71 percent of charter students being racial/ethnic minorities (Black, Hispanic, and others combined).
Black families are a driving force in the expansion of school choice — not just charter schools — in Florida. Over the past decade, the number of Black students in Florida enrolled in non-district options grew 86%, to 142,384. That’s more than one in five Black students in the state. For context, 31 states have fewer Black students in their public schools than Florida has in these options, said Ron Matus in an article published in Next Steps in 2025. “In the most school choice-rich state in America, 1 in 5 Black students are now enrolled outside district schools. “Many Black families choose charter schools because they can offer alternative environments and approaches, especially in areas where traditional public schools have struggled academically or faced challenges with resources and safety. Enrollment of Black and Hispanic students in charters has been growing rapidly, suggesting these communities value the options these schools provide.”
Similar findings were shared by the American Federation for Children. “For many Black families in Florida, school choice is about more than picking a school — it’s a pathway to real options and better outcomes when neighborhood schools fall short, giving parents the freedom to find safer, higher-quality environments where their children can thrive,” explained Denisha Allen in Controlling the narrative: Parental choice, Black empowerment and lessons from Florida, a report published by the Federation in June 2022.
While enrollment numbers show a positive trend, the real story of why Black families support educational choice is best told by the students, educators, and parents.
“I was a priority at Everglades Prep,” said Mahogany Boldin, Class of 2023 (pictured). After COVID and absences caused by a health issue, Mahogany struggled to catch up and get back into the routine of in-person school. Her mom met with Ms. Easley, the principal of Everglades Prep, who welcomed the family with open arms. “Everyone at Everglades Prep supported my journey. They checked in on me and guided me through junior and senior year as I caught up with classes, took the SAT and ACT, and graduated feeling confident.” Now a Telemetry Health Technician, Mahogany is grateful she attended a charter school that understood her needs and supported her every step of the way. Located in Pahokee (Palm Beach County), Everglades Preparatory is a Dropout Prevention, Alternative High School that utilizes an instructional framework which emphasizes differentiation through small group, peer-to-peer, mentoring programs, self-directed, and other hands-on learning methods to support all learners as well as College Readiness and Accelerated Programs, Career & College Counseling, Academic Counseling, and Development Coaching to support all learners.
“We are proud to say that our African American students outperformed the district or/and state 4th- 7th grade assessment in the area of math and in certain grade levels in ELA, but mostly in mathematics,” explains Mrs. Donyale Ferguson McGhee, Principal, Somerset Preparatory Charter School at North Lauderdale. “We believe every child deserves equal access to an excellent education and vast opportunities that will empower them to persevere, lead, and succeed in society. We will continue to remain committed to nurturing relationships in and beyond the classrooms, celebrating culture, and building a future filled with endless possibilities for our beautiful students at Somerset Preparatory North Lauderdale.” Somerset Preparatory North Lauderdale K-8 (Broward County) is proud to serve our amazing minority families in the North Lauderdale community, which is comprised of 59 percent African American, 36 percent Hispanic students, and 5 percent other.
In honor of Black History Month, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a Black Students in Charter Schools Fact Sheet to highlight the contributi
ons of Black communities to public education and the ways charter schools serve Black students nationwide. Two alumni from Southtech Academy Charter High School (a successful CTE program located in Palm Beach County) are highlighted in that document. Click here to open the alumnus profile of Hervé Jean-Baptiste, Class of 2021, Southtech Academy.
