Kissimmee Charter & Private Schools: Your Guide to Education Alternatives in Osceola County
From tuition-free charter campuses to faith-based private schools — here's what Kissimmee families need to know about stepping outside the traditional public school system
Kissimmee and Osceola County offer 42 private schools for the 2025–26 school year, with an average private school tuition of approximately $15,500. Kissimmee Charter Academy (Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy) is a tuition-free public charter school at 2850 Bill Beck Blvd serving grades K–8 with 715 students and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. UCP of Central Florida operates an inclusive charter campus in Kissimmee at 1820 Armstrong Blvd, serving PreK–5th grade students with and without disabilities, and is developing a new 37,000-square-foot facility in downtown Kissimmee. Florida families can access an average of $8,000 in private school scholarship funding through the FES-EO or Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs, administered via Step Up For Students, with priority given to lower-income households.
Here's something a lot of families moving to Kissimmee don't realize until they dig into the local school landscape: the Osceola County public system isn't the only game in town. Between tuition-free charter schools, specialized inclusive programs for kids with disabilities, faith-based private schools, and Florida's generous school choice scholarships, the range of options is wider than you might expect.
Whether you're a relocating parent planning ahead or a current resident wondering if there's a better fit for your child, this guide covers the key charter and private school alternatives serving Kissimmee — what they are, who they serve, and how to access them.
First: Why Kissimmee Families Look Beyond the District
The School District of Osceola County serves over 66,000 students across 75 public schools and has real strengths — arts magnets, CTE academies, a 1:1 device program. But one size doesn't fit every family. Some parents want smaller classes, specialized disability support, a faith-based setting, or a different instructional approach. Florida's school choice ecosystem means there are funded options to explore, and Kissimmee has some noteworthy ones.
Kissimmee Charter Academy: The Tuition-Free Charter Option
The most established charter school in the city is Kissimmee Charter Academy (operated by Imagine Schools) at 2850 Bill Beck Blvd — a tuition-free public charter serving grades K–8 with approximately 715 students. It's a City of Kissimmee charter within the Osceola County School District.
- Grades K–8 on one campus — families get continuity through middle school without switching buildings.
- 16:1 student-teacher ratio — slightly better than Florida's state average of 17:1.
- Gifted & Talented program — less common among smaller charter schools.
- Tuition-free — families apply and, if accepted, attend at no charge.
Honest caveat: standardized test performance is below state averages, with about 45–46% of students scoring proficient in math and reading versus Florida's ~52%. The school serves a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students, which provides important context. If test scores are your top metric, compare carefully. If K–8 continuity, smaller classes, and character-focused programming matter most, a campus visit is worth the time.
UCP of Central Florida: Inclusive Education for Kids of All Abilities
For families with a child who has a disability, developmental delay, or IEP — or families who simply believe strongly in inclusive education as a model — UCP of Central Florida is one of the most compelling educational organizations in the region.
UCP was founded in 1955 and now operates eight inclusive charter schools across Central Florida, serving over 2,000 students from birth to age 21. Its Osceola campus at 1820 Armstrong Blvd in Kissimmee serves families in Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, and Hunters Creek. It covers PreK through 5th grade, with average class sizes of 14–15 students.
What Makes UCP Different
UCP's core model is inclusion — children with and without disabilities learn in the same classrooms. On-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy is woven into the school day, so kids with IEPs don't miss class time for separate appointments. Average class size runs 14–15 students. The broader UCP network (through its Transitional Learning Academy) also offers tuition-free middle school, high school, and post-graduate transition programming for students ages 18–21.
Big recent news: UCP purchased land in downtown Kissimmee at Route 192 and Oak Street to build a new 37,000-square-foot educational and pediatric therapy facility.
Private Schools in and Around Kissimmee: The Faith-Based Landscape
Osceola County has 42 private schools for 2025–26, with about 86% religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian or Pentecostal) and average tuition around $15,500 per year. Some consistently cited options in and near Kissimmee:
- Holy Redeemer Catholic School — PreK–8, about 282 students, 14:1 ratio at 1800 W Columbia Ave.
- North Kissimmee Christian School — PreK–12, roughly 143 students, known for a tightly knit community.
- Osceola Christian Preparatory School — K–12 downtown, consistently ranked among the top private options in the county.
- Trinity Lutheran School — PreK–8, about 139 students at 3016 W Vine St, with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.
- First United Methodist School — PreK–5, about 222 students near downtown Kissimmee.
The Florida School Choice Scholarship: Your Key to Making Private School Affordable
Here's where things get really interesting for Kissimmee families considering private school. Florida has one of the most expansive school choice programs in the country — and it can dramatically change the tuition math.
FES-EO and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) provide an average of $8,000 per year toward private school tuition. As of 2023–24, these are available to all Florida K–12 students regardless of household income, with priority for lower-income families. Applications are handled through Step Up For Students.
FES-UA: The Unique Abilities Scholarship
Families with children who have qualifying disabilities — including students with IEPs — can access the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA), worth an average of $10,000 through a flexible education savings account. Funds can cover tuition, therapy, tutoring, and specialized technology. This is particularly relevant for families considering UCP or other specialized programs in Kissimmee.
Bottom line: if private school tuition has been the sticking point, check the Step Up For Students website to see your family's specific award amount. Many Osceola County families aren't accessing money they qualify for.
Other Alternative Pathways Worth Knowing
Osceola County's school choice framework includes several other routes families sometimes overlook: the Osceola County School for the Arts (OCSA) — a competitive public magnet with rigorous arts training, tuition-free; Controlled Open Enrollment within the public district; Florida Virtual School (FLVS) for free online K–12 coursework; and Home Education, which is relatively accessible under Florida law and may qualify for the ~$8,000 PEP scholarship.
What the Locals Know
Kissimmee's education alternatives are more robust than the city's "theme park suburb" reputation suggests. Between Kissimmee Charter Academy's free K–8 option, UCP's nationally recognized inclusive model with a new facility coming, a solid roster of faith-based private schools, and Florida's unusually generous scholarship programs, families here genuinely have choices. Do your homework early — charter waitlists fill, scholarships have priority windows, and tour slots go fast. Put school research on the list before you finalize your move to Osceola County.
If you're comparing Kissimmee to nearby Celebration or Lake Nona, those communities bring their own campus proximity and school options worth exploring. Our Kissimmee Schools Guide covers the full public school picture, and our Kissimmee Community Contacts page connects you with local resources.
For a full overview of Florida's scholarship programs, visit Step Up For Students.
Thinking about a move to Kissimmee or exploring what Central Florida has to offer for your family? Browse our Kissimmee Schools Guide for public school details, or explore nearby communities like Celebration, Lake Nona, and Horizon West to compare education options across the region. Questions? Contact us for personalized relocation guidance! 🏫
