Florida public schools are seeing significant enrollment declines, with Hillsborough County reporting a loss of about 7,000 students since last year. Much of that decrease is being attributed to a rise in homeschooling.

At Ovations Dance Academy in Tampa, the ballet studio has transformed into a part-time classroom. Owner Orlando Peña created a homeschool-friendly space where children can fit academics around their training.

“My daughter’s homeschooled because of the freedom and the flexibility… it opens up a world of opportunities,” Elena Luyo, a homeschooling parent, told WTVT.

For some families, the decision is linked to stress and well-being. “She was just getting too stressed out… I can’t have her going to school with anxiety and stomach aches,” said mother Louwanda Barnes.

Peña said the shift has been clear in recent years. “The homeschooling was so popular in Florida that I thought, all right, let’s start it — and it’s starting to take off.”

Meanwhile, the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association cautions that public schools provide more than academics. Union president Rob Kriete emphasized that schools offer collaboration, exposure to diverse perspectives, and highly trained educators.

“Public education is much more nuanced, it’s beyond the lesson. It’s the interactions,” Kriete said. “We know our public schools are the best place for kids, with highly qualified teachers and support professionals meeting their needs every day.”

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