Orange County (Florida) district is converting elementary to a charter school

The district has partnered with nonprofit Lift Orlando to transform Orange Central Elementary School.
April 9, 2026

Key Highlights

  • Orange Center Elementary will open in August as Orange County's first  charter school.
  • The school will continue its focus on STEM education.
  • Current students will have priority enrollment.
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Orange Center Elementary

The Orange County (Florida) School Board has voted to convert Orange Center Elementary in downtown Orlando into the district's first charter school.

Central Florida Public Media reports that Orange Center parents voted to approve the change earlier this year. It is expected to open as a charter school in August. Orange Center is now a public Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) magnet school.

Orange Center Elementary is working with the school district and the nonprofit Lift Orlando to incorporate new approaches to education, according to the Lift Orlando website. 

Students now attending Orange Center will be given priority enrollment, and staff will be offered positions if they wish to stay, according to Lift Orlando. 

 

About the Author

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Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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