--- title: The Florida Story (3) description: Delve into the world of private schools and their role in providing unique educational opportunities. Discover how they fit into the broader educational ecosystem. (3) --- [![SUFS-LOGO\_circle-1](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png?width=150&height=150&name=SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png "SUFS-LOGO_circle-1")](https://www.stepupforstudents.org/) English × # The Florida Story Browse By: Everything [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Putnam-Classical-Academy-1-cropped.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/in-this-small-town-a-classical-school-is-rising-and-families-are-signing-up-in-droves) ## [In this small town, a classical school is rising, and families are signing up in droves ](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/in-this-small-town-a-classical-school-is-rising-and-families-are-signing-up-in-droves) PALATKA, Fla. — All Risa Byrd wanted to do was start a little preschool. That’s it. But then the... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Mickelsons-Ave-Maria-2-cropped.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/from-minnesota-to-florida-for-catholic-schools-and-school-choice-1) ## [From Minnesota to Florida, for Catholic schools and school choice](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/from-minnesota-to-florida-for-catholic-schools-and-school-choice-1) AVE MARIA, Fla. – Toby and Nicole Mickelson were thinking about moving from Minnesota even before... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TAMPA_CATHOLIC_101723-181.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/catholic-school-enrollment-continues-to-rise-in-florida-2) ## [Catholic school enrollment continues to rise in Florida](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/catholic-school-enrollment-continues-to-rise-in-florida-2) **By Lauren May and Ron Matus** [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TAMPA_CATHOLIC_101723-181.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/catholic-school-enrollment-continues-to-rise-in-florida-1) ## [Catholic school enrollment continues to rise in Florida](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/catholic-school-enrollment-continues-to-rise-in-florida-1) **By Lauren May and Ron Matus** [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TAMPA_CATHOLIC_101723-181.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/catholic-school-enrollment-continues-to-rise-in-florida) ## [Catholic school enrollment continues to rise in Florida](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/catholic-school-enrollment-continues-to-rise-in-florida) **By Lauren May and Ron Matus** [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Mickelsons-Ave-Maria-2-cropped.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/from-minnesota-to-florida-for-catholic-schools-and-school-choice) ## [From Minnesota to Florida, for Catholic schools and school choice](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/from-minnesota-to-florida-for-catholic-schools-and-school-choice) AVE MARIA, Fla. – Toby and Nicole Mickelson were thinking about moving from Minnesota even before... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PIE-Changing-Landscape-2026-Final-2.pdf)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/record-53-of-floridas-k-12-students-use-education-choice-options) ## [Record 53% of Florida’s K-12 students use education choice options](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/record-53-of-floridas-k-12-students-use-education-choice-options) Florida’s K–12 education landscape continues to shift toward choice. During the 2024–25 school... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fabiola-at-Hope-Ranch-2-1.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/moving-to-florida-for-a-school-called-hope) ## [Moving to Florida for a school called Hope](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/moving-to-florida-for-a-school-called-hope) By Ron Matus and Julisse Levy [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Becky-and-Jeff-Cummings-in-renovated-building-now-schoolhourse.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/a-school-of-the-future-sprouts-in-potato-country) ## [A ‘school of the future’ sprouts in potato country ](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/a-school-of-the-future-sprouts-in-potato-country) HASTINGS, Fla. – It’s a safe bet most people don’t think of potatoes when they think of Florida.... [![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/copy_of_yass___identity-logo_navy_background__1__720.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/florida-schools-win-big-in-yass-prize-competition) ## [Florida schools win big in Yass Prize competition ](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/the-florida-story/florida-schools-win-big-in-yass-prize-competition) If anyone needs more proof that the future of education is in Florida, take a look at the winners... 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