Moving to the state of Florida with school age children?
In years past, Florida’s high school’s graduation rates were not considered that bad. It turns that’s because Florida counted students who got GEDs 
or “special education diplomas” in their graduation rates, according to an article in the Palm Beach Post. The US Department of Education has now released a report that shows how graduations rates compare among US states. This year is the first year that the department published such a report, and it only counts standard high school diplomas. Florida’s graduation rate wasn’t the worst in the US, but it was 6th from the bottom.
Florida’s Governor Scott was criticized last year for cutting education funds by 1.3 billion dollars to balance the budget due to lasting effects of the economic downturn. This year he restored 1 billion of that cut. An official of Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future has said Florida’s schools face difficulties, such as challenging demographics where 57% of public school students receive reduced or free lunches.
We have been cautioning parents who move to Florida with kids to be sure to do their homework when choosing a place to live. There have been numerous violent crimes against students that have made national headlines over the last few years. You probably know where the good schools are in the area you now live. A similar knowledge about where you’re moving will help to keep them safer and better educated in their new home. There is a link on the right column of this page to help you in your research.
