Columbus High Withdrew Bid for Banyan Elementary
The private school canceled its plans to acquire the public campus after a district committee recommended rejection.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Primary Education
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Families at Banyan Elementary will not see their school sold or demolished after Columbus High School withdrew its unsolicited proposal. The Miami-Dade County School Board subsequently canceled a planned vote on the potential sale.
Why it matters
The proposal sparked concerns during a period of declining enrollment across Miami-Dade County Public Schools. While the immediate threat to the Banyan campus has passed, the district continues to navigate a broader list of schools monitored for possible closure.
Banyan Elementary served approximately 350 students last school year, with official utilization figures reported between 56% and 62%. It remains unclear how these metrics will influence the district's ongoing review of facilities.
The players
Columbus High School
A private Catholic school that submitted an unsolicited proposal to acquire the Banyan Elementary property.
Banyan Elementary
A public school that was the subject of a proposed purchase and demolition.
Miami-Dade County School Board
The elected body that oversees district facilities and school closure decisions.
Rafael Villalobos
The Superintendent who placed the district's school closure list on pause.
The details
Columbus High School had sought to purchase the Banyan Elementary site to expand its private facilities, including the addition of an aquatic center. A district committee had recommended that the Miami-Dade school board reject the offer before the withdrawal was announced. Superintendent Rafael Villalobos has placed the broader school closure list on pause as the district evaluates its real estate holdings.
Timeline
August 2026: The district released a list of schools under review for potential closure.
October 6-10, 2026: A district committee met and recommended rejecting the purchase proposal.
October 13, 2026: The district confirmed the withdrawal of the proposal.
October 14, 2026: The school board removed the planned vote from its meeting agenda.
Beyond the 305
This move reflects the ongoing tension created by the expansion of the Florida school voucher program, which has fundamentally changed how private schools approach growth. The interest in Banyan Elementary follows a pattern of private entities seeking land as public districts face enrollment shifts.
Banyan Elementary families can expect school operations to continue as scheduled without the threat of imminent sale or demolition. Residents should monitor future school board updates to see if or when the district resumes its review of the facility closure list.
The takeaway
While the Banyan Elementary site is secure for now, the district's overall school closure list remains an active issue for parents across the county. Follow future Miami-Dade County School Board meetings to stay informed on the status of your local school's facility status.
Further reading
For more context on how district policy affects campuses across the county, see our coverage of Primary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Miami Herald.
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