Introduction to Broward Schools Survey
Broward may be an A-rated school district, but some parents don’t feel like their children are getting an A-rated education, a new survey suggests. About a quarter of parents who withdrew their children from Broward schools cited dissatisfaction with the quality of their child’s education as the top reason, and a similar percentage cited safety concerns, according to a district-commissioned report from Hanover Research, a Washington, D.C., firm.
Reasons for Leaving Broward Schools
Other concerns cited include dissatisfaction with school leadership, a lack of resources, concerns about resources or facilities, limited extracurricular activities and inadequate special education services. For those families who stay, the top reasons are: convenience, transportation services, trust in school leadership, positive environment with good parent involvement and access to advanced-level courses, the results state.
Survey Results and Parent Satisfaction
Overall, a large majority of those surveyed are satisfied with Broward schools, with 46% ranking the district good and 26% excellent. The district contracted with Hanover to conduct two surveys this year about why parents stay at or leave Broward schools. The researchers received responses this spring from nearly 9,000 parents of current or former district students for a “family retention survey.” The researchers also did a separate survey of 2,824 parents whose children attend charter schools.
Redefining Broward County Public Schools Initiative
The surveys are part of the district’s “Redefining Broward County Public Schools,” an initiative where the district is looking at closing some schools and making changes needed to lure back families who may be attending or considering charter, private or home schools. Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn said his main takeaway from the survey is that parents aren’t fully aware of all that’s offered in district schools.
Quality of Education and Charter Schools
In the charter school survey, an overwhelming percentage of parents (81%) listed quality of education as the reason they chose charter schools, with other factors including focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education, availability of advanced programs and innovative teaching methods. “Academic quality and a strong curriculum are important, but equally vital is the presence of a supportive and nurturing environment that promotes social-emotional growth,” one parent wrote. Another wrote, “Charter tends to be much more academically strong from my opinion as I have had experience in both.” Hepburn disagrees.
District Response and Recommendations
“What I took away is we have to do a better job as a district informing our public, informing our parents, and everybody in the county about the amazing things that are happening in Broward County Public Schools,” he said. “You don’t become a back-to-back A school district without doing those things that many of the parents listed.” The district had been consistently B-rated in recent years, but got its first A grade in 2024 and maintained that in 2025. But there are no signs this is helping enrollment, which fell about 3,600 last year and is projected to decline 8,800 for the upcoming school year. Many of those families are choosing charter schools or using vouchers for private or home schools. One of the recommendations the researchers made to help change that is to “highlight and communicate the district’s academic quality.”
Recommendations for Improvement
The researchers made several recommendations as a result of the surveys, including:
— Consider offering more college- and career-readiness support. Preparing students for college or for a career were two areas that received some of the lowest “good” or “excellent” ratings from families, the researchers said.
— Concentrate on “supporting teachers in order to bolster the quality of education.” About a quarter of respondents said the district needs to improve teacher quality, and a similar proportion say the district should enhance teacher training and professional development in order to improve student achievement.
— Address school safety and take steps to try to reduce instances of bullying and harassment. Broward schools “should aim to implement a strong anti-bullying campaign and ensure students, families, and staff have the resources they need to both prevent and respond to instances of bullying and harassment.”
— Consider increasing support for students who need mental health resources or who may need additional social or behavioral support, “as only about half of respondents say the district is currently doing a good or excellent job meeting the needs of these students.”
— Build trust and connection through visible leadership and a strong school culture. Parent respondents point to trust in leadership, school accountability, and a positive school culture as major factors in their decision-making. “BCPS can build on this by supporting school leaders to be more visible, communicative, and responsive to family concerns.”
Areas of Strength
The report did note some areas where Broward received strong marks. About 74% of respondents rate the district’s use of technology in the classroom as good or excellent, and 71% say the district ensures all students have equal access to programs and activities. About two-thirds say the district sets high expectations for all students. About two-thirds of respondents say the district is doing a good job of serving special-needs students and those still learning English. A smaller percentage of parents say the district does a good job of preparing students for a career (59%) and teaching students self-management (57%).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the survey provides valuable insights into the reasons why some students are leaving Broward schools and what the district can do to improve and retain more students. By highlighting the district’s academic quality, supporting teachers, addressing school safety, and increasing support for students who need mental health resources, the district can work towards regaining the trust of parents and improving overall student outcomes.
FAQs
Q: What is the main reason why parents are withdrawing their children from Broward schools?
A: The main reasons cited are dissatisfaction with the quality of education and safety concerns.
Q: What percentage of parents ranked the district as good or excellent?
A: 46% ranked the district as good and 26% as excellent.
Q: What is the “Redefining Broward County Public Schools” initiative?
A: It is an initiative where the district is looking at closing some schools and making changes needed to lure back families who may be attending or considering charter, private or home schools.
Q: What percentage of parents chose charter schools due to the quality of education?
A: 81% of parents listed quality of education as the reason they chose charter schools.
Q: What are some of the recommendations made by the researchers to improve the district?
A: The recommendations include highlighting and communicating the district’s academic quality, supporting teachers, addressing school safety, and increasing support for students who need mental health resources.
Originally Published: August 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM EDT
