Okeechobee Times

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

Of the 12,175 students attending Highlands County schools, 38.6% were white. Hispanic students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 38.4% of Highlands County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common ethnicity in Highlands County, representing 40.3% of the student body.

Sun 'n Lake Elementary School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 39% white students, 26.9% Hispanic students, 24.2% Black students, 5.3% multiracial students, and 3.7% Asian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 1.5% 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
Avon Elementary School	Hispanic	49.9%	553
Avon Park High School	Hispanic	44.4%	946
Avon Park Middle School	Hispanic	44.4%	602
Cracker Trail Elementary School	White	62.9%	736
Fred Wild Elementary School	Hispanic	41.1%	577
Highlands County Hospital/Homebound Program	Hispanic	52.4%	21
Highlands County Schools Jail Program	Black	< 10%	< 10
Highlands Virtual School	White	55.6%	133
Hill-Gustat Middle School	Hispanic	39%	631
Lake Country Elementary School	Hispanic	47.3%	628
Lake Placid Elementary School	White	41.1%	548
Lake Placid High School	Hispanic	44.9%	829
Lake Placid Middle School	Hispanic	46.3%	598
Memorial Elementary School	Hispanic	39%	508
Non-Enrolled PK Exceptional Ed Program	Black	< 10%	10
Park Elementary School	Hispanic	46.3%	521
Sebring High School	White	44.6%	1,901
Sebring Middle School	White	48.2%	787
Sun 'n Lake Elementary School	White	39%	590
The Academy at Youth Care Lane	Hispanic	38.6%	70
Woodlawn Elementary School	White	40.7%	777