New schools, scholar athletes and classroom overcrowding.

Orange County Public Schools leaders shared their vision for the district's future during the annual State of the Schools address Wednesday morning. The event was held in downtown Orlando.

  • 32 schools will be renovated or replaced over the next 3 years
  • Orange County education officials recognized scholar students

The district is in the middle of a major construction phase. Sixteen new schools are being built across Orange County over the next several years.

In total, 32 schools will be renovated or replaced over the next three years.

District leaders also touted recent awards, as well as improving AP, magnet and technical programs as major accomplishments.

However, a new state law allowing students to transfer to schools in other counties might impact the district's plan to handle overcrowding and student enrollment growth.

"Often times, our schools on our side of the county line are closer than many of our neighbor schools across the Lake County line or the Osceola County line," said Bill Sublette, the chairman of the Orange County School Board. "So, we're worried those schools are going to be very, very popular. Students are going to flock to those schools. While they may have some capacity now, we're building those schools because we know they'll be full — even busting at the seams in only two (to) three years. We can ill-afford to take in other counties' students."

District leaders also recognized some of the OCPS Super Scholars who will attend some of the nation's best colleges and universities in the fall.

Sublette said those students were highlighted to show students can attend any university with an Orange County public education.