OCPS District 7 Board Member Melissa Byrd.
From Staff Reports
In Summary:
The OCPS Board approved attendance boundary changes involving Kelly Park School, Wolf Lake Elementary, Wolf Lake Middle, and Zellwood Elementary. The rezonings will move portions of the Winding Meadows and Westridge Park neighborhoods into different school zones beginning in 2026-27. Board member Melissa Byrd said the changes help unify neighborhoods while shifting students from slightly overcrowded schools into campuses with available space.
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The Orange County Public School Board approved several school rezoning changes Tuesday night that will primarily affect students in the Apopka area beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
Related: OCPS earns national recognition for music education for 10th consecutive year.
At its May 12 meeting, the board approved targeted attendance boundary adjustments for Kelly Park School, Wolf Lake Elementary School, Wolf Lake Middle School, and Zellwood Elementary School. The district is managing enrollment growth and balancing student populations across Northwest Orange County.
One of the approved rezonings moves a portion of the Winding Meadows neighborhood from Wolf Lake Elementary School and Wolf Lake Middle School to Kelly Park School beginning in 2026-27.
Board members also approved shifting a portion of the Westridge Park neighborhood from Zellwood Elementary School to Wolf Lake Elementary School.
District 7 OCPS Board member Melissa Byrd said the rezonings were designed to unify neighborhoods while also better balancing enrollment between campuses.
“This was just a small targeted rezoning for two neighborhoods that were split between two different schools,” Byrd said. “This rezoning made it so that those neighborhoods were assigned to the same schools. It made sense to not only bring neighborhoods together but to move students into schools that had space available from schools that were slightly over capacity.”
The rezonings represent some of the most direct impacts to Apopka-area families discussed during Tuesday’s meeting and continue a pattern of enrollment adjustments tied to rapid residential growth in Northwest Orange County.
The board also approved a separate redistribution plan affecting students currently zoned for Orange Center Elementary School. Under the plan, students would be reassigned to Catalina Elementary School, Rock Lake Elementary School, and Washington Shores Elementary School beginning in the 2026-27 school year, following the board’s earlier approval of a charter school conversion application for Orange Center Elementary.
A related item related to the Orange Center transition was tabled for further discussion at a special board meeting scheduled for May 19.
Beyond the rezoning actions, district officials also presented updates on student wellness and campus climate initiatives during the meeting.
District leaders highlighted a systemwide vape prevention campaign focused on awareness, education, and prevention strategies. As part of the presentation, Liberty Middle School student Mia Rodriguez was recognized for creating the winning anti-vaping slogan: “Vaping Clouds Your Future, Choose Clear Skies.”
The board also recognized several district achievements and personnel milestones, including the introduction of new administrators. Deputy Superintendent Bridget Williams announced Tami Hinton as the new principal of Apopka Elementary School and Tamara Preston as assistant principal.
Additional recognitions included honors for district employees, longtime administrators, and A Gift for Teaching, which district officials said has distributed more than $200 million in free classroom and school supplies since 1998.
Key Points:
- OCPS approved targeted rezonings affecting Apopka-area schools beginning in 2026-27.
- Portions of the Winding Meadows neighborhood will move from Wolf Lake schools to Kelly Park School.
- Part of the Westridge Park neighborhood will shift from Zellwood Elementary to Wolf Lake Elementary.
- District 7 board member Melissa Byrd said the rezonings help keep neighborhoods together while balancing enrollment.
- The board also discussed student wellness initiatives, including a districtwide anti-vaping campaign.
