Florida Purple Star Schools Top 540: 94 Newly Designated and Three New Purple Star Districts
The Florida Department of Education announced on November 11 in Tallahassee, the state capital in Leon County, Florida, that more than 540 schools statewide have now earned the Purple Star School of Distinction designation, including 94 newly designated schools and 69 renewals, while three more school districts have earned the Purple Star School District designation, bringing the statewide total to nine districts. The department released the list on Veterans Day to recognize the schools' commitment to military-connected students and families.
The three newly designated Purple Star districts are Clay County Schools, Escambia County Schools and Flagler County Schools, joining Bay, Brevard, Citrus, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties and Florida Virtual School, which had earned the designation earlier. The district-level program was established in 2024, and a district qualifies only when at least 75 percent of its schools hold the Purple Star School of Distinction designation.
The 94 new and 69 renewed schools together form the 2026-2029 cohort of 163 schools, and the designation is valid for three years. Commissioner of Education Henry Mack said the schools and districts earning the designation have demonstrated a commitment to recognizing the unique experiences of military-connected students and ensuring they feel welcomed, supported and ready to succeed academically and personally.
The Purple Star program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2021 and began with 124 schools; it has since grown to more than 540 designated schools statewide. To earn the designation, a school must name a military point of contact to serve as the central liaison for military families, maintain a dedicated webpage with resources on academic planning, transition planning and educational opportunities, run a student-led transition program for incoming military students, provide staff professional development on the needs of military families, and reserve five percent of open enrollment seats for military-connected students.
Schools must also offer at least three additional activities supporting military families, such as a community service project connecting the school with the military community, an annual military recognition event, or a JROTC program. The department said the full list of Purple Star Schools of Distinction and details on how to join are posted on its Purple Star webpage. (Source: Florida Department of Education)
Source: Florida Department of Education
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Tallahassee 的佛罗里达州议会大厦，新旧两座大楼同框（F McGady 摄，CC BY 4.0，Wikimedia Commons）。 / Image: The Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, with the historic and current capitol buildings (photo by F McGady, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
