Okeechobee Times

The most represented ethnicity among Highlands County students was white, accounting for 39.6% of the student population, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Of the 12,362 students attending Highlands County schools, 39.6% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 37.8% of Highlands County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common ethnicity in Highlands County, representing 40.5% of the student body.

Highlands County Hospital/Homebound Program had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 39.3% Hispanic students.

In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county increased by 0.9% when compared to the previous year.

Florida's choice to stick with in-person classes during the pandemic may have shielded students from significant learning setbacks. A recent Harvard study highlighted that districts heavily reliant on remote learning saw the most significant declines in student achievement amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Interestingly, gaps in math achievement by race and school poverty did not widen in school districts in states such as Texas and Florida and elsewhere that remained largely in-person, said Thomas Kane, professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

School Name	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Avon Elementary School	Hispanic	51.1%	523
Avon Park High School	Hispanic	45.4%	928
Avon Park Middle School	Hispanic	46.6%	638
Cracker Trail Elementary School	White	63.9%	692
Fred Wild Elementary School	Hispanic	43.2%	563
Highlands County Hospital/Homebound Program	Hispanic	39.3%	28
Highlands County Schools Jail Program	Black	< 10%	< 10
Highlands Virtual School	White	48.8%	168
Hill-Gustat Middle School	Hispanic	39.2%	705
Lake Country Elementary School	Hispanic	43.4%	685
Lake Placid Elementary School	White	39.6%	594
Lake Placid High School	Hispanic	46.2%	868
Lake Placid Middle School	Hispanic	41.9%	621
Memorial Elementary School	Hispanic	35.7%	532
Non-Enrolled PK Exceptional Ed Program	Black	< 10%	12
Park Elementary School	Hispanic	44%	527
Sebring High School	White	46.3%	1,809
Sebring Middle School	White	50.1%	815
Sun 'n Lake Elementary School	White	45.3%	618
The Academy at Youth Care Lane	White	35%	60
Woodlawn Elementary School	White	42.7%	794