Highlands School District

426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870-4048
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 9 public high schools serving 4,544 students in Highlands School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Florida.
Public High Schools in Highlands School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Florida public high school average of 41%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Highlands School District have a Graduation Rate of 81%, which is less than the Florida average of 88%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Lake Placid High School, with 85% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Florida or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public high school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
23 Schools
1,280 Schools
# Students
12,040 Students
1,016,843 Students
# Teachers
651 Teachers
47,193 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.
This School District
State Average (FL)
#55 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

47%
52%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

42%
52%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

44%
52%
81%
88%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
39.8%
33.8%

Students by Ethnicity:

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.
This School District
This State (FL)
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 High Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Highlands County Hospital/homebound Program
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Gr: K-12 | 17 students Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #22.
Highlands Virtual School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Gr: K-12 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 141:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #33.
Hill-gustat Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4700 Schumacher Rd
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5437
Gr: 6-12 | 669 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #44.
Sebring High School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3514 Kenilworth Blvd
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,849 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #55.
Avon Park High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
700 E Main St
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4311
Gr: 9-12 | 980 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #66.
Lake Placid High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
202 Green Dragon Dr
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5010
Gr: 9-12 | 829 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #77.
The Academy At Youth Care Lane
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4121 Youth Care Ln
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
Gr: 9-12 | 2 students
Rank: n/an/a
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Gr: 6-12

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 23 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 12,040 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 62%
  • : 81% (Btm 50% in FL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education

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