FL Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. 2023 | Commissioner of Education
FL Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. 2023 | Commissioner of Education
Data reveals that the majority of students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year were white, representing 78% of the Columbia County School District total enrollment.
Additionally, the largest portion of students in the district are enrolled in elementary school grades, making up 48% of the total enrollment.
Columbia County School District covers 17 schools within Columbia County, with its main office in Lake City.
Among the 17 schools in Columbia County School District, Columbia High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,727 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.
| School | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Columbia High School | 1,727 |
| Fort White High School | 1,117 |
| Lake City Middle School | 941 |
| Belmont Academy | 823 |
| Eastside Elementary School | 664 |
| Fort White Elementary School | 646 |
| Westside Elementary School | 629 |
| Columbia City Elementary School | 586 |
| Summers Elementary School | 531 |
| Pinemount Elementary School | 471 |
| Richardson Sixth Grade Academy | 420 |
| Melrose Park Elementary School | 388 |
| Five Points Elementary School | 359 |
| Niblack Elementary School | 307 |
| Pathways Academy | 58 |
| Columbia Virtual Instruction Program | 18 |
| PreK Ese | 15 |
Alerts Sign-up