The Leon County School District has 42 schools along with several schools and programs that are geared toward students with specific education needs or interests. For example, Gretchen Everhart School's students have moderate to severe disabilities, while Lively Technical Center offers a career development program for high-school and adult students. Although most students attend schools based on where they live, the district also offers a program that allows students to enroll at schools offering alternative courses or lessons. There are also opportunities for parents to enroll their children near their workplaces or their child-care providers. There is a March 1 deadline each year to request an alternative school assignment for a child.
Children can attend the county's two charter schools for free.
Charter schools, which operate free from many state requirements and regulations, are run by private boards using public money. Both schools are free and open to the public, but students may have to add their names to waiting lists or submit to an interview process in order to enroll. There are only a handful of schools offering high-school courses. Some schools are associated with churches, while others are prep schools. The Leon County School Board is made up of five members.