For the 2026-27 school year, there are 23 public schools serving 12,040 students in Highlands School District. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Florida.
Public Schools in Highlands School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the Florida public school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
23 Schools
4,194 Schools
# Students
12,040 Students
2,850,255 Students
# Teachers
651 Teachers
154,729 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Highlands School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 81% has increased from 77% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#55 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
52%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
52%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
52%
Graduation Rate
81%
88%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)39.8%
33.8%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.70
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
2%
3%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
39%
38%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
17%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
38%
34%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,320 in this school district is less than the state median of $14,419. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,998 is higher than the state median of $13,816. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$172 MM
$41,097 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$169 MM
$39,380 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$14,320
$14,419
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$13,998
$13,816
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Highlands School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Sun 'n Lake Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4515 Ponce De Leon Blvd
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5464
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5464
Gr: PK-5 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #22.
Cracker Trail Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8200 Sparta Rd
Sebring, FL 33875
(863) 471-5777
Sebring, FL 33875
(863) 471-5777
Gr: K-5 | 710 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #33.
Lake Country Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
516 County Road 29
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5050
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5050
Gr: PK-5 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #44.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
327 E Palmetto St
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4373
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4373
Gr: PK-5 | 557 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #55.
Woodlawn Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
817 Woodlawn Dr
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5444
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5444
Gr: PK-5 | 834 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #66.
Highlands County Hospital/homebound Program
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Gr: K-12 | 17 students Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #77.
Sebring Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
500 E Center Ave
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5700
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5700
Gr: 6-8 | 840 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #88.
Highlands Virtual School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Gr: K-12 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 141:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #99.
Avon Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
705 Winthrop St
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4355
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4355
Gr: PK-5 | 503 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1010.
Lake Placid Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
101 Green Dragon Dr
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5070
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5070
Gr: PK-5 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1111.
Hill-gustat Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4700 Schumacher Rd
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5437
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5437
Gr: 6-12 | 669 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1212.
Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
867 Memorial Dr
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 784-0200
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 784-0200
Gr: K-5 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1313.
Sebring High School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3514 Kenilworth Blvd
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5500
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,849 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1414.
Fred Wild Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3550 Youth Care Ln
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5400
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5400
Gr: PK-5 | 576 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1515.
Lake Placid Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
201 S Tangerine Ave
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5030
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5030
Gr: 6-8 | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1616.
Avon Park High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
700 E Main St
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4311
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4311
Gr: 9-12 | 980 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1717.
Avon Park Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
401 S Lake Ave
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4333
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4333
Gr: 6-8 | 600 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1818.
Lake Placid High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
202 Green Dragon Dr
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5010
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5010
Gr: 9-12 | 829 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1919.
The Academy At Youth Care Lane
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4121 Youth Care Ln
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5457
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5457
Gr: 5-12 | 57 students Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: n/an/a
Highlands County Schools Jail Program
Alternative School
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Gr: 9-12 | 2 students
Rank: n/an/a
Non-enrolled Pk Exceptional Educational Program
Special Education School
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Gr: PK | 6 students Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: n/an/a
3560 Us 27
Sebring, FL 33870
(813) 314-5281
Sebring, FL 33870
(813) 314-5281
Gr: PK | 136 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Highlands School District?
Highlands School District manages 23 public schools serving 12,040 students.
What is the rank of Highlands School District?
Highlands School District is ranked #56 out of 73 school districts in Florida (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Highlands School District?
39% of Highlands School District students are Hispanic, 38% of students are White, 17% of students are Black, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Highlands School District?
Highlands School District has a student/teacher ratio of 18:1, which is equal to the Florida state average of 18:1.
What is Highlands School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $13,998 is higher than the state median of $13,816. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
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