Future Learning: Volusia Schools to add Magnet Schools and Cambridge Programs

As choices in how Floridians educate their children grow with recent legislation, public school districts are having to also increase their choices of programs, courses, and facilities. I have seen this first-hand in both my full-time job as a virtual school teacher for Brevard County and as my kids attend public schools here in Volusia.

Cambridge Programs Coming to Volusia Middle Schools

Volusia County Schools (VCS) are looking both to national programs, such as from Cambridge University, and to unique local programs and partnerships to expand opportunities for learners. I was in a District Advisory Council meeting in April where we were able to learn more about the programs and courses coming to schools for the 2026-2027 school year.

For middle schools, VCS is looking to add a new course from the Cambridge program. If a rising sixth or seventh grade student scored a level 3, 4, or 5 on their end-of-year progress monitoring state tests in May, then they are invited to take a Cambridge Lower Secondary Global Perspectives course. There will be one course per grade level, which focuses on “research, collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and global awareness,” according to the district’s “From Our Halls” newsletter.

The schools were chosen based on creating a direct pathway to VCS’s existing Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) programs at various high schools and include Galaxy (Deltona), Campbell (Daytona Beach), Creekside (Port Orange), River Springs (Orange City), and Ormond Beach Middle Schools plus Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson. These schools are listed as phase one, with the hopes that more schools and grade levels will be added in subsequent years.

Success of Magnet Schools Across Volusia County

At the elementary school level, this past school year already saw the success of Edith I. Starke’s STEM + Art Magnet school in DeLand. Several schools also began Dual Language Programs in lower grade levels to teach students all core subjects in both English and a foreign language, such as Spanish or French. Currently, the schools are Spirit (Deltona) for VPK through third grade; Holly Hill for VPK through second grade; Discovery (Deltona) for VPK through first grade; Freedom (DeLand) for kindergarten through second grade; George W. Marks (DeLand) for K and first grade; and Pierson for VPK and K. There will not be an expansion of schools offering this program, but the grade levels will indeed grow to accommodate the ages of the learners in the program.

More elementary schools across the district will specialize in specific programs to give families more choices and, again, the goal is to feed into programs already established at the middle schools and high schools near these young scholars. In Ormond Beach, Tomoka will become a magnet for students designated as “gifted.” VCS assured us at our meeting that they would not consolidate all district gifted resources to this one school, but that it would indeed become a model for other gifted programs. Volusia Pines in Lake Helen will become a Technology and Innovation Magnet School, and Edgewater Public, George W. Marks (DeLand), and Osteen will become Agriculture Magnets, which will include community gardens on campus.

Lastly, and near and dear to my family’s hearts, Turie T. Small Elementary in Daytona Beach will become a Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School. There are already amazing art and music teachers at my daughters’ school plus an extracurricular flag core and dance team. The new school year will bring a musical theater teacher on staff with the hopes of putting on school-wide productions for the students to showcase their talents to the community. This will create a direct pathway to music and arts at Campbell Middle next door and Mainland High School nearby, which features a beautiful performing arts center on International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona.

The Future of Public Education in Volusia County

As an advocate for public schools, I believe all students should have access to a free, high-quality education. Our students are our future doctors, lawyers, actors, computer programmers, mechanics, and so much more. I am excited to see how the additions and expansions of programs in VCS will open more opportunities for our students and our community as a whole!

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