Indian River County school leaders say they are starting the year with enrollment expected to exceed the state's projections, thanks to expanded programs and a focus on listening to families. About 14,000 students are expected to begin the school year across the district. Liberty Magnet School is welcoming about 650 students this year, roughly the same as last year. Principal Chris Taylor said he is happy to see the halls full again after a quiet summer.
David Moore said the district has expanded its magnet and K-8 options to better meet families' needs. The district has also implemented other strategies to attract and retain families, including creating programming for homeschool students, removing attendance boundaries, and utilizing open choice. Moore said the district took time to sit back, relax, and understand what the community wants when it comes to educating children.
Moore said the district still sees a slight decline in enrollment year after year, but it is not significant enough to impact the budget. The Hamilton family said the support their children receive at Liberty Magnet keeps them coming back. All three of their children have gone to the school, and the school has been really invested in their success, parent Matt Hamilton said.