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 820 students enrolled in district’s kindergarten in the 2023-24 school year, making up 8.4% of the student body in the district.
The number of students in the kindergarten fell by 6.7% compared to the year before.
Columbia County School District also had a high enrollment for the first-grade, the second highest recorded in the district.
Within the district, Summers Elementary School had the most kindergarten students in the 2023-24 school year.
Data showed that Columbia County School District enrolled a total of 9,785 students in the 2023-24 school year, the 34th lowest enrollment in Florida.
It was also ranked 34th 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 |
|---|---|
| Belmont Academy | 823 |
| Columbia City Elementary School | 586 |
| Columbia High School | 1,727 |
| Columbia Virtual Instruction Program | 18 |
| Eastside Elementary School | 664 |
| Five Points Elementary School | 359 |
| Fort White Elementary School | 646 |
| Fort White High School | 1,117 |
| Lake City Middle School | 941 |
| Melrose Park Elementary School | 388 |
| Niblack Elementary School | 307 |
| Pathways Academy | 58 |
| Pinemount Elementary School | 471 |
| PreK Ese | 15 |
| Richardson Sixth Grade Academy | 420 |
| Summers Elementary School | 531 |
| Westside Elementary School | 629 |
| Total Columbia County School District | 9,785 |
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