Success Academy to launch first Florida campus in Miami through Schools of Hope program

Miami, Florida – Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that Success Academy, one of the country’s top-performing charter school networks, will open its first Florida campus in Miami. The launch is part of the state’s Schools of Hope initiative, which aims to provide students in areas with consistently underperforming schools access to a high-quality education.

“Florida leads the nation in educational freedom, and today we are adding to that promise,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “With Success Academy opening in Miami, students will now have access to one of the highest-performing education models in the country. Florida’s families deserve world-class education, and we will continue to make it available to every child no matter their zip code.”

Success Academy is nationally recognized for its strong academic outcomes and success in closing achievement gaps for students from underserved communities. Its expansion into Miami marks a major step forward in giving Florida families new and high-performing choices when it comes to K-12 education.

Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas praised the move as another step toward empowering parents. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, parents are empowered to choose the educational path that best suits their children’s unique needs,” Kamoutsas said. “Success Academy offers families another high-quality option, backed by a nationally recognized track record of academic excellence and school improvement.”

Schools of Hope and Education Reform in Florida

The Schools of Hope initiative was created in 2017 to help students stuck in chronically low-performing public schools. It encourages nonprofit charter school networks with a proven record of academic success to open campuses in underserved areas. Known as “Hope Operators,” these organizations must show a consistent ability to serve low-income students effectively and close academic achievement gaps.

Governor DeSantis has backed a series of bold educational reforms to increase school choice and expand options for Florida families:

• In 2023, he signed House Bill 1, which made Florida the first state to offer universal school choice, allowing all families access to education options regardless of income. Today, more than 1.8 million students — over half of Florida’s K-12 population — are enrolled in a school choice program.

• House Bill 1 also created the Personalized Education Program, giving parents flexible funding to select curriculum, tutoring, or other resources needed to support their child’s education. More than 150,000 students are currently participating in home education.

• Earlier this year, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 248, allowing homeschool students to participate in extracurricular activities — like football, band, and other school programs — at their local public schools without jeopardizing their homeschool status.

The opening of Success Academy in Miami is expected to be a turning point for students living in areas previously served only by low-performing schools. It signals Florida’s continuing commitment to raising education standards while giving families more power to decide how and where their children learn.

To learn more about the Florida Department of Education or school choice programs, visit www.fldoe.org.