Manny Diaz, Jr. Commissioner of education at Florida Department of Education | https://www.flbog.edu/member/21325/
Manny Diaz, Jr. Commissioner of education at Florida Department of Education | https://www.flbog.edu/member/21325/
Data showed that Columbia County School District welcomed 823 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, Hispanic students comprised 9% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the district.
Columbia County School District roughly covers 17 schools within Columbia County, and has a main office in Lake City.
Among the 17 schools in Columbia County School District, Fort White High School recorded the highest enrollment of Hispanic students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of 139 students.
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 Year | Total District Enrollment | Total Hispanic Students | Hispanic % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 823 | 75 | 9%% |
| 2022-23 | 9,887 | 922 | 9.3%% |
| 2021-22 | 9,923 | 874 | 8.8%% |
| 2020-21 | 9,805 | 786 | 8%% |
| 2019-20 | 10,196 | 771 | 7.6%% |
| 2018-19 | 10,149 | 695 | 6.8%% |
| 2017-18 | 10,187 | 685 | 6.7%% |
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