Mixed race family considering move to Florida: schools, areas and experiences?

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We are mixed race family. I’m half English and Indian but basically look Indian but never been there and was raised completely English culturally and only have a British passport. Dh is white English. Dd who has just turned 13 is somewhere in the middle with tan skin,
dh has the opportunity to get a remote job anywhere in Florida, (although Florida bit may be negotiable if we want that).
I love the US and have been many times but in recent times I’m very apprehensive about being a mixed race family and living there.
Can anyone help, so far I think that if we move, we have to live in a nice area to achieve a nice school.

I believe dd would start high school in August and we need to get a move on sorting it all out as I’d rather she could start with everyone else and I know some of the school application deadlines have already passed. I don’t understand all the different types of school yet. She’s currently in a private school, but looking at everything I can find, public looks fine for the majority of dc in Florida. Is it true that there’s not always much of a difference in terms of education or future college applications if you go to a public school?
any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!

Personally I wouldn’t. I’d hold off until she’s older. I wouldn’t risk it with ICE and the school shootings.

I don't mean to piss on your chips, but - as someone who also has a mixed race family - there is absolutely no way that I would consider moving my family to the US right now, and I think you would be insane to do so.

You will no doubt have some people coming along to say that it will be fine, but the reality is, you can't possibly know that, and there are lots of people right now for whom it really hasn't been fine.

Don't risk it. Not with the current administration in power.

You come across as quite concerned in your post, as I would be. Basically is I had to weigh up my children's colour versus mine I would not step foot in that country. Also with all the unrest in the USA I honestly think you must be barking mad to even consider it with the orange idiot in charge

What visa would you be on, does it lead to a green card? (The employer would have to sponsor). I know this isn’t why you asked but there’s a risk that your DD would age out of her visa and not be able to secure a green card on her own. As you noted, you’ll need to make sure you live in a catchment area for good high school and whether her visa status will impact her ability to work/ qualify for in state college fees if you stay.

To the actual question you asked - Florida is very republican-leaning and you should understand exactly what the political climate is there (access to women’s healthcare, education funding, LGBT rights). I live in a different state in the US, I would not choose to live in FL.

Yes it would be on a visa that can lead to a green card after two years ( L1)thank you for the advice. The office is in Miami but we don’t need to be overly close. Are there any states on the east coast that would be better for our circumstances?

Maryland is on the east coast and is part of a tri-state area around Washington, DC. It’s politically liberal and multi cultural. Definitely worth a look.

Thank you I’ll take a look

I live in Maryland. It's fantastic. You couldn't pay me enough to move to Florida with children. I couldn't even begin to list the issues with living there: hurricanes, terrible public schools, incredibly high home insurance, Ron DeSantis, mediocre health care. I admit that south Florida sounds tempting in February, but that's it. The DC suburbs are diverse and have terrific schools. Fairfax County in northern Virginia is similar.

do be aware that if she starts high school here she will have to complete it here, the systems really can't be switched at that point. 13 is usually going into 8th grade (US starts a year later than England). ,

There ia no way any decent peraon woukd advise you to go to Florida at this time in history.

Are you mad?

Alex Pretti
Renee Good
Donald Trump

I wouldn't take my children to the most volatile dumpster fire country in the world, for any amount of money.

Why?

We have friends in lakeside ranch in Sarasota. It's very rich ( private gated) but also very nice and very multicultural because money talks. People have moved from all over. Schools are good. You just don't 'see' any poorer people because they are only there to work. It's nice in a stepford wives way. Don't talk politics and be prepared for looking trump esque. My Boden wearing summer dresses and Birkenstocks appeared 'poor' to them - all the 40 yr olds there are in tiny tennis skirts and big trainers. There's alot of cosmetic surgery. (Basically - what we think is nice they think is not trying and what they think is glam we think is inappropriate)

My black friend (with mixed race children), does not feel that Asian/white count as mixed race in the US context. I was initially surprised, but after she said this, I began to see she had a point. Black/white mixed race kids and families have more to deal with. Somehow Asian/white mixed race is more common, and not subject to the same negative day to day reality.

While I can't in good conscience advocate for Florida, just mentioning this fine distinctly, which wasn't obvious to me. You might happily find things aren't that bad on the race front for your family in the US. Sarasota could be fine if you're into that sort of thing. On the other hand I'm hearing that standard immigration checkpoints at airports have become increasingly hostile and difficult to manage even for people who have not traditionally had any issues.

I am white, dh is is from SE Asia. My dc are obviously mixed and DS has previously been mistaken for Mexican/ Latino. None of us would set foot in the US. I honestly think it is too dangerous.

Sarasota is the headquarters of Moms for liberty. They've taken over the schools.

Thanks for the advice it’s so helpful. @Nodwyddaedafedd yes I know there are some weird distinctions surrounding race in the US (weird to me anyway) I’ve been to Florida many times, the most recent was in Jan 2025, I was in Miami. I was mistaken for a Hispanic person at the airport and spoken Spanish to, I imagine that will happen.

I’ve never had anything bad directed at me but I appreciate things are quite different even since my last visit. It sounds mad to consider it but there are more job opportunities in the US for us than the U.K. and this is the only option on the table rn to go there hence us considering it.

i have only lived in white areas of the U.K. so am used to stares or being asked where I’m ‘really from’ and so on and that doesn’t bother me, but I am worried when it comes to the serious violence that seems to be happening more over that side of the world. Florida has a lower income tax which would allow for more income. But I’m sure that extra gets eaten up by other things living there.

Florida has zero state income tax, so you'd only be paying US Federal (which is the same everywhere), you would indeed keep more income. Cost of Living is reasonable, so wouldn't eat into your gains. If this is purely financial, Florida will be as you expect.

I wouldn’t even consider schooling my child in a country known for school shootings

Yes you don’t pay income tax in Florida. However when you run the calculations you don’t necessarily save. Homeowners insurance is expensive in FL, and a lot of homes (especially in new neighbourhoods) are in HOAs and can have substantial fees. I don’t pay that here. On top of that teachers in Florida make 60% of what they make here and it shows.