FL Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. 2023 | Commissioner of Education
FL Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. 2023 | Commissioner of Education
Overall, there were 1,177 students enrolled in district’s ninth-grade in the 2023-24 school year, making up 9.7% of the student body in the district.
The number of students in the ninth-grade fell by 2.2% compared to the year before.
Highlands County School District also had a high enrollment for the 10th-grade, the second highest recorded in the district.
Within the district, Sebring High School had the most ninth-grade students in the 2023-24 school year. Hill-Gustat Middle School, Highlands County Hospital/Homebound Program, and Highlands County Schools Jail Program had the fewest.
Data showed that Highlands County School District enrolled a total of 12,175 students in the 2023-24 school year, the 37th lowest enrollment in Florida.
It was also ranked 37th lowest in the year before.
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.
| Schools | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Avon Elementary School | 553 |
| Avon Park High School | 946 |
| Avon Park Middle School | 602 |
| Cracker Trail Elementary School | 736 |
| Fred Wild Elementary School | 577 |
| Highlands County Hospital/Homebound Program | 21 |
| Highlands County Schools Jail Program | 0 |
| Highlands Virtual School | 133 |
| Hill-Gustat Middle School | 631 |
| Lake Country Elementary School | 628 |
| Lake Placid Elementary School | 548 |
| Lake Placid High School | 829 |
| Lake Placid Middle School | 598 |
| Memorial Elementary School | 820 |
| Non-Enrolled PK Exceptional Ed Program | 10 |
| Park Elementary School | 521 |
| Sebring High School | 1,901 |
| Sebring Middle School | 787 |
| Sun 'n Lake Elementary School | 590 |
| The Academy at Youth Care Lane | 70 |
| Woodlawn Elementary School | 777 |
| Total Highlands County School District | 12,175 |
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