Happy Friday, Orlando. Whether you’re back at work today or extending your Fourth of July festivities, we’ve got you covered with news, updates, and events to bring you into the weekend.

Today’s forecast 🌦️: Nothing new here - We’ll see mostly sunny skies in the morning, clouds in the afternoon, and some showers later in the day. It’ll be hot and humid, with highs around 93. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Bishop Moore Catholic High School Set to Expand Campus

• Orlando’s Relocation Appeal Drops but Remains in the Top 20

Let’s dive in.

EDUCATION

Bishop Moore Catholic High School Set to Expand Campus

What’s new: Bishop Moore Catholic High School, located in College Park, is set to expand its campus with four new buildings and a pedestrian bridge.

The details: The private school, which has acquired four properties near its campus between 2018 and 2023, plans to add:

• Multipurpose building: A three-story, 50,000-square-foot facility with a second phase adding another 30,000 square feet.

• Sports administration building and Hall of Fame: A two-story, 10,000-square-foot structure.

• Softball support building: A two-story, 10,000-square-foot facility.

• Maintenance building: A one-story, 5,000-square-foot structure.

• Athletic building expansions

• Pedestrian/student bridge

The process: The school aims to present its master site plan adjustment request to the Orlando municipal planning board on August 20th.

Context: The expansion comes as the Florida Department of Education reports a significant increase in private school enrollment. In the 2022-23 school year, 445,067 students were enrolled in private schools in Florida, a 36% rise from 2013-14. This accounts for about 13% of the state’s 3.32 million students in pre-K through 12th grade.

Big picture: Bishop Moore Catholic High School is the largest private high school in the region, with an enrollment of 1,423 students as of November 2023. Founded in 1954, the school is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

Read more here (Orlando Business Journal)

ON THE DOCKET

What’s Happening this Weekend?

1. Arena football’s Orlando Predators host the Nashville Kats tonight at 7 PM at the Kia Center.

2. The Run, White, and Blue 5K is Saturday at the Grande Lakes Ritz-Carlton. The race starts at 7:30 AM.

3. Orlando City hosts DC United on Saturday night at Inter&Co, while the undefeated Pride face the unbeaten KC Current in Kansas City. Both games kick off at 7:30 PM.

4. Per usual, the Orlando Farmers’ Market is back in session on Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM at Lake Eola Park.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Orlando’s Relocation Appeal Drops but Remains in the Top 20

Driving the news: Orlando remains a top US relocation destination but has dropped to #18 nationally, down from #3 last year, according to a recent report by PODS Enterprises.

By the numbers: Florida cities in the top 20 fell from six in 2023 to only three this year. Those remaining include Ocala (2), Jacksonville (9), and Orlando (18).

Here are the top ten spots for 2024:

1. Myrtle Beach, SC

2. Ocala, FL

3. Houston, TX

4. Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

5. Charlotte, NC

6. Raleigh, NC

7. Phoenix, AZ

8. Knoxville, TN

9. Jacksonville, FL

10. Asheville, NC

Zoom out: The Carolinas clearly dominated the relocation landscape with six cities in the top 20. Florida's slight drop in rankings could reflect broader issues like slowed economic growth and rising insurance premiums as severe weather has caused damage across the state.

Read more here (Orlando Business Journal)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. After increasing almost 14% over four years, Florida's pay growth is beginning to slow.

2. A possible cyber attack on a statewide system has caused delays in obtaining birth and death certificates.

3. Disney wrapped up its first batch of new cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort, planning to update 350 units in total by early 2025.

4. After terminating an agreement with Orange County, Maitland could potentially forfeit its SunRail station.

5. Raising Cane’s is tentatively planning to open its new Winter Park location on September 3rd.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here on Monday.

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