How many students were enrolled in Highlands County School District in 2023-24 school year?

FL Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. 2023 | Commissioner of Education

By Okeechobee Times

Aug 19, 2024

Highlands County School District had a decrease in student enrollment during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education. Overall, there was a total of 553 students enrolled in the district in the academic year.

The most represented ethnicity among Highlands County School District students was Hispanic, accounting for 49% of the student population.

Additionally, the largest portion of students in the district are enrolled in elementary school grades, making up 43.9% of the total enrollment.

Highlands County School District covers 21 schools within Highlands County, with its main office in Sebring.

Among the 21 schools in Highlands County School District, Sebring High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,901 students in the 2023-24 school year.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to face a teacher shortage in the 2023-24 school year. Despite some improvements, the state reported nearly 4,800 instructional vacancies at the beginning of the year. According to the Florida Department of Education, core subjects such as English, reading, and math among the areas with the highest demand for teachers.

According to the National Education Association (NEA), Florida ranked 50th in the U.S. for teacher pay in the 2022-23 school year, with salaries lower than they were a decade ago when adjusted for inflation.

Governor DeSantis's budget for the 2024-25 school year allocates nearly $38 billion for education, with $1.25 billion dedicated to teachers' salaries and other instructional personnel.

Enrollment in Highlands County School District Over 7 Years

School Enrollment Breakdown for Highlands County School District in 2023-24 School Year

School	Total Enrollment
Sebring High School	1,901
Avon Park High School	946
Lake Placid High School	829
Memorial Elementary School	820
Sebring Middle School	787
Woodlawn Elementary School	777
Cracker Trail Elementary School	736
Hill-Gustat Middle School	631
Lake Country Elementary School	628
Avon Park Middle School	602
Lake Placid Middle School	598
Sun 'n Lake Elementary School	590
Fred Wild Elementary School	577
Avon Elementary School	553
Lake Placid Elementary School	548
Park Elementary School	521
Highlands Virtual School	133
The Academy at Youth Care Lane	70
Highlands County Hospital/Homebound Program	21
Non-Enrolled PK Exceptional Ed Program	10
Highlands County Schools Jail Program	0