School enrollment trends have Flagler County officials looking at possible school zone changes.

  • 2 Flagler elementary schools at capacity
  • Future enrollment concerns means rezoning possible
  • Discussion possible in February

The superintendent said the board and the school district are looking at rezoning options to move kids to schools with unfilled seats. Another option is to turn one or more schools into K-eighth grade schools.

"Our schools aren't overcrowded yet but we're seeing that they're teaching capacity and we want to be proactive," said Jacob Oliva, Flagler Schools Superintendent.

Flagler County's elementary schools were built with room, but some are also home to pre-kindergarten programs. Enrollment in those programs has Oliva concerned about the future.

"Trend lines show moving forward," Oliva said. "Two elementary schools are at capacity, meaning there won't be any additional seats with our open choice policy. We've been very lenient and accommodating of our families to get them to the schools and programs that they desire if the trend lines keep moving forward." 

Belle Terre Elementary and Old Kings Elementary have the biggest future capacity issues. Other schools, like Rymfire Elementary, have lots of space available.

There are also concerns rezoning could disrupt feeder patterns into middle and high schools as enrollment grows by hundreds.

"That's what we're trying to avoid, we don't want to have one school be way over and other schools be way under," Oliva said. "It's about making sure we're efficient and providing an optimal learning environment for all of our students."

But Oliva said building a new school isn't an option until all of the schools are at capacity in order to get funds for a new school.

"We do feel like probably in the next five years it will be time for Flagler schools to really look at how much capacity we have and if we want to build an additional school," said Oliva.

The superintendent said they will have to bring additional data to the next board meeting at the beginning of February to discuss other options. It will be about two months before they have something concrete.