Okeechobee Times

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

Of the 6,337 students attending Okeechobee County schools, 44.7% were Hispanic. White students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 44.4% of Okeechobee County students.

In the previous school year, Hispanic students were also the most common ethnicity in Okeechobee County, representing 44.7% of the student body.

Okeechobee Achievement Academy had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 46.9% Hispanic students, 38% white students, 8.9% Black students, and 5.6% multiracial students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 1% 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	48.7%	548
Everglades Elementary School	White	48.2%	774
North Elementary School	Hispanic	48.9%	558
Okeechobee Achievement Academy	Hispanic	46.9%	179
Okeechobee High School	Hispanic	45.7%	1,741
Okeechobee Virtual Franchise	White	65.6%	61
Osceola Middle School	White	50.1%	711
Seminole Elementary School	Hispanic	55.8%	541
South Elementary School	White	58%	536
Tantie	Black	63.5%	63
Yearling Middle School	Hispanic	51%	625