For the 2026-27 school year, there are 17 public elementary schools serving 8,238 students in Highlands School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Florida.
Public Elementary Schools in Highlands School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the Florida public elementary school average of 56%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public elementary school average of 67% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
23 Schools
3,410 Schools
# Students
12,040 Students
2,014,387 Students
# Teachers
651 Teachers
117,874 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%
33%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
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 Elementary 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.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
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: #1616.
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%
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