Catholic school enrollment in Florida grew more in the past year than in the previous 10 years combined, while Catholic school enrollment nationally held steady, according to the latest figures from the National Catholic Educational Association.

Florida’s Catholic schools operate in the nation’s most competitive education market. That they’re growing speaks volumes about the power of choice and the quality of the Catholic school brand. It also speaks to change. Florida’s Catholic schools grow more diverse by the day, both with the students they serve and the programming they offer. As choice expands, the future of Catholic schools will hinge on how well they adapt to ever more dynamic environments with ever more options. The experience in Florida suggests they are more than capable.

School is back in session for Catholic schools across all seven dioceses in Florida. This year, each of them is seeing another enrollment increase. This broad, widespread enrollment growth is part of a longer-term trend that makes Florida stand out on the national landscape.

House Bill 1 expands eligibility for all K-12 students, regardless of household income, and converts the scholarship into education savings accounts, or “ESAs”. Creates a new program called the Personalized Education Program, or "PEP". An education savings account program that allows parents to customize the education of students who are not attending public or private schools full-time.