Profile: Orange County Public Schools

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is the public school district for Orange County, Florida. It is based out of the Educational Leadership Center, a seven-story building adjacent to the Amway Arena in Downtown Orlando, Florida. As of 2007, it has an enrollment of over 176,000 students, making it the 12th largest school district in the United States. Mirroring Greater Orlando's high growth rate, it is also one of the fastest-growing school districts in America.

Teach. Learn. Grow.

For 20 years, the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Inc. has been living its mission – to bring together community resources to ensure a quality education for every student. Through innovative programs and projects, the Foundation provides more than $2 million annually to schools to help create a brighter future for our area’s youth – a future that revolves around constant teaching, learning and growing.

The Foundation – which serves the 11th largest public school system in the nation (4th in the state) - is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that supports more than 178,00 students and 13,107 teachers in 170 schools in the county.

The Foundation manages and administers core programs and projects that enhance student achievement. These programs touch thousands of students and teachers each year and have proven to be vital tools and resources that effectively nurture learning and development.  Our core programs include …

• Count Me In!, a community engagement initiative that focuses on bringing people together, creating a vision, and making quality education for all a reality.
• Middle School Kids, a youth development project for middle school students that brings together students, parents, and community resources.  The initiative is aimed at increasing the capacity of schools, communities and families to support middle school students in becoming healthy, productive adults. At the heart of the initiative is a specific, research-based intervention – LifeSkills Training.
• Read2Succeed, which engages volunteers to provide one-on-one reading assistance and mentoring to second grade students reading below grade level. In just three years, the Read2Succeed program grew from 5 pilot sites to nearly 450 volunteers and 43 schools.
• Scholarships, programs such as Tech Scholarships and ALP Memorial Scholarship Fund provide thousands of dollars annually to graduating students.
• Teach-In, an annual event that brings thousands of business and civic leaders into classrooms to talk with students about academics, careers and the future.
• Teacher Grants, including Darden Restaurants Foundation Grants for classroom supplies and equipment; Citi Teacher/Mentor Grants for teacher collaboration initiatives; Progress Energy Empowerment Grants for science and math-related equipment and supplies; Universal Orlando Foundation K-2 Readiness Grants for instruction projects that address the special needs of our K-2 students; and West Orange County Middle School Science Grants for science supplies and equipment.

Our vision is to be the top producer of successful students in the nation

 Support from the Orange County community, business partners, involved parents and interested citizens is essential, and here is proof of that commitment: 

• 45,000 registered volunteers who contribute at least 920,000 hours annually
• 2,288 partnership agreements with businesses
• 38,600 PTA/PTSA members
• School Advisory Councils at every school with 50% or more community members along with parents and school staff.

Orange County Public Schools is a powerful, positive force in the Central Florida economy.  OCPS is the second largest employer in Central Florida with almost 21,500 employees and more than 178,000 students.  Our operating budget is approximately $1.44 billion, and our capital budget is $1.41 billion.

Our generous community is to be commended for the opportunities provided to our students.  Working together, we will ensure a strong future for the entire Central Florida region.