After months of public input and debate, the Broward County School Board approved a sweeping reconfiguration plan to address declining enrollment across the district.
Weeks ago, the board voted in favor of Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn’s proposal to close Broward Estates Elementary in Lauderhill—currently operating at just 36% capacity—and convert the facility into an early learning center for pre-Kindergarten students.
The vote, which passed with two dissenting members, also includes changes to five other schools under the district’s “Redefining Broward County Public Schools” initiative, aimed at reducing costs and modernizing the school system to reflect current student numbers.
In addition to the Broward Estates closure, the board approved plans to convert Coconut Creek Elementary, Coral Cove Elementary in Miramar, and Hollywood Central Elementary into K-8 schools. Silver Shores Elementary, also in Miramar, will be transformed into a full-choice magnet program. Zoned students will instead be reassigned to Silver Lakes or Silver Palms elementary schools. Pines Middle School will gradually transition into a 6–12 collegiate academy.
The initiative follows a nearly 22% drop in enrollment over the last two decades, with over 45,000 empty seats across the district. Originally, the board directed former Superintendent Peter Licata to identify five schools for closure. However, public backlash and concerns from city officials and residents led to a scaled-back plan that shutters only one school.
Broward Estates has a capacity for nearly 700 students but enrolled just 222 this year, making it the district’s most under-enrolled school. That low enrollment creates a financial strain, since state funding is tied to student headcounts. Still, for many in Lauderhill, Broward Estates is more than just a school — it’s a generational anchor. Opened in 1957, it’s where parents, their grown children, and now even grandchildren have all gone. Nearly 80% of Lauderhill’s population is Black, according to the U.S. Census, with a significant number of Caribbean-American families who’ve long sent their kids to Broward Estates. Since the school board’s vote in January, parents and community members have been actively protesting the decision to close it.
Board member Dr. Allen Zeman argued the district must do more, pointing to years of deferred decisions. He warned that reaching 90% districtwide capacity would require closing 33 schools. Superintendent Hepburn agreed with Zeman’s assessment of declining numbers but emphasized the need for a phased, community-driven approach, rather than abrupt mass closures.
“This process is not just about closing schools,” said Hepburn. “It’s about creating opportunities, meeting the diverse needs of every child, and ensuring families feel confident in choosing Broward County Public Schools.”
The changes will go into effect for the 2025–26 academic year and represent the first phase of a longer-term effort to reshape the district.
