Okeechobee Times

Hispanic students made up the largest ethnic group enrolled in Hendry County County school districts during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Of the 13,406 students attending Hendry County schools, 53.3% were Hispanic. White students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 24.9% of Hendry County students.

In the previous school year, Hispanic students were also the most common ethnicity in Hendry County, representing 54% of the student body.

Digital Academy of Florida had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 37.9% Hispanic students, 31.8% white students, 21.5% Black students, 7% multiracial students, 1.4% Asian students, and 0.3% Alaskan Native or American Indian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 3.3% when compared to the previous 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.

School Name	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Central Elementary School	Hispanic	55.3%	602
Clewiston High School	Hispanic	56.9%	978
Clewiston Middle School	Hispanic	58%	635
Country Oaks Elementary School	Hispanic	72.1%	908
County Wide Exceptional Student Education	Black	< 10%	11
Digital Academy of Florida	Hispanic	37.9%	5,880
Eastside Elementary School	Hispanic	57.1%	552
Edward A. Upthegrove Elementary School	Hispanic	73.3%	525
Labelle Elementary School	Hispanic	64.2%	452
Labelle High School	Hispanic	72.2%	1,415
Labelle Middle School	Hispanic	73.3%	841
Montura Early Learning Center	Hispanic	81.3%	32
Westside Elementary School	Hispanic	60.8%	523