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Orange County Public Schools Overview
Orange county includes the communities of Apopka, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Maitland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park.

Orange County Public School System is the fourth largest in the state, and the 14th largest in the country. Orange County School System is regarded as progressive, and is working to maintain and improve the quality in an environment of low property taxes. The district presents a comprehensive program that includes everything from college preparatory, advanced placement and dual enrollment through Valencia Community College, and a strong vocational education program.

Staff members consistently received recognition and honors at local, state and national levels for their accomplishments. In 1994, Apopka High School and Windy Ridge Elementary in Orlando were each selected a National School of Excellence as part of the Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Orange county has 150 schools; 104 elementary, 27 middle and 15 high schools, 4 alternative/exceptional and 4 vocational schools.

To graduate high school twenty-four credits and a 1.5 grade point average during sophomore, junior and senior years are required.

School Board

The Orange County School Board is composed of seven elected members. The board makes policy for Orange County Public Schools. Members serve a staggered four-year term and are elected in county wide partisan elections. Members must live within the school district they represent.

Board meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The meetings are held in the Orange County School Board Educational Leadership Center, 445 W. Amelia St., Orlando.

The School Board appoints the superintendent, who administers the operations of the district. Orange County Public School Superintendent is Ronald Blocker.

Special Programs

Vocational programs are available to students 16 years of age and older who want to learn new skills or upgrade existing ones. Adult education programs are offered for those who left high school before graduation. You may earn a diploma through the Adult High School Credit Program or the General Education Development testing program.

Exceptional education programs cover a wide area of subjects and services for handicapped and gifted students.

Computers in Education

Orange County Public Schools emphasizes getting students ready for a technology-oriented world. There are more than 7,000 computers installed in classrooms, and the district's goal is to have several computers in every classroom.

OCPS has started setting up a local area network (LAN) at the schools to help teachers move into the role of facilitator rather than teacher. The LANS provide a bevy of resources for teachers, including worldwide databases, Internet access, library card catalogs, instructional software and electronic mail. The Technology and Media Services department is in the process of retrofitting older schools so that they may participate in this cutting edge technology.

School Advisory Council

This council is an umbrella group bringing together all interested parties to work on continually improving the school. Each school in the district has a council made up of a ethnic, racial and economic cross-section of the community. The council assists in preparing, implementing, and evaluating the school improvement plan. The plan focuses on what students need to know and be able to do. The council seeks participation of other school staff, parents, community members and students in order to carry out its function.

Community Participation

Volunteers from the community and families play a vital role in the success of Orange County Public Schools. 'ADDitions', a nationally recognized school volunteers program consists of parents, community members, students and retired citizens. They serve throughout the school year on a regular or as needed basis to bring their experience to all areas of education.

The Partners in Education Program allows the community and school system to work together. A Partner in Education is a business, organization or industry that adopts a school and shares its resources, people, material and sometimes financial. As a Partner you have an opportunity to meet and train some of tomorrow's employees. The school, in turn, participates in a number of activities that benefit the business partner. Because Orange county is a hub for the entertainment and space industries, it can draw on the talents of people from all over the world. Orange County has the unique distinction of teaching students from 174 countries speaking 60 different languages.

Elementary Schools

More than 71,800 students are enrolled in Orange county's 104 elementary schools. The school program is multi-faceted. It goes beyond basic courses offering a curriculum which includes graphic arts, choral/band, computer training and career exploration. Students receive substance abuse information, and study a law awareness program in the 5th grade. Some schools offer an extended day program before and after school, with special enrichment activities.

Students in kindergarten through 3rd grade are tested and evaluated to identify special learning deficiencies. This Primary Education Program (PREP), provides individual instruction for these students to help bring them up to the level of their peers.

There are Exceptional Education Programs to serve the needs of Handicapped (challenged) and gifted students. The program for challenged students is one of the most comprehensive in the United States. The program provides training for those with mental and emotional handicaps and to those with hearing, speech, vision and language impairments.

Middle Schools

The middle school curriculum concentrates on three major areas: 1. Subject content, 2. Essential skills, 3. Personal development. Students must complete three years of language art, math, science, physical education, social studies and exploratory classes. They must participate in the IMPACT Program and each 7th grader must take a semester of computer education.

High Schools

High School students can choose from a wide range of courses and programs to meet their vocational and academic interests and abilities. Gifted students may enter an honors program and perform in-depth studies in specific areas.

The Advanced Placement Program offers studies in English and English Literature, chemistry, biology, physics, European and U.S. History, computer science, languages, art history and appreciation, music theory, listening and literature. Courses may be substituted for college credit if the student passes a standardized test. Seniors may take college level courses through the dual enrollment program at Valencia Community College.

Winter Park High School is the site for the International Baccalaureate Program. This program is only offered in six other schools in Florida. A magnet school designed to challenge participants with a rigorous academic schedule.

Dr. Phillips High has an International Studies Program to prepare students for careers in international business. They are exposed to foreign languages, laws and cultures. Dr. Phillips High, as a magnet school, also has a pilot program for Visual and Performing Arts giving students the opportunity to produce their own closed-circuit TV new show.

School Information can be obtained from:
Orange County Public Schools Community Relations
445 W. Amelia St.
Orlando, FL 32801
(407)849-3237.

For specific information on which schools serve individual communities and boundary lines call:
Pupil Enrollment:
(407) 849-3342.

Some communities are situated in two different counties, therefore will be served by a different school district. For instance, Apopka is situated in Orange County, but some of its' unincorporated area fall into the Seminole County School District.

We wish to thank the Orange County School System for their cooperation in helping us bring you this information.

Visit the Orange County School District web site.