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 282 students enrolled in district’s first-grade in the 2023-24 school year, making up 8.5% of the student body in the district.
The number of students in the first-grade grew by 6.8% compared to the year before.
Washington County School District also had a high enrollment for the third-grade, the second highest recorded in the district.
Within the district, Kate M. Smith Elementary School had the most first-grade students in the 2023-24 school year. Washington Virtual Instruction Program, Washington Virtual Franchise, and Washington Academy of Varying Exceptionalities (Wave) had the fewest.
Data showed that Washington County School District enrolled a total of 3,305 students in the 2023-24 school year, the 21st lowest enrollment in Florida.
It was also ranked 21st 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 |
|---|---|
| Chipley High School | 555 |
| Kate M. Smith Elementary School | 964 |
| Roulhac Middle School | 408 |
| Vernon Elementary School | 604 |
| Vernon High School | 331 |
| Vernon Middle School | 258 |
| Washington Academy of Varying Exceptionalities (Wave) | 68 |
| Washington Virtual Franchise | 16 |
| Washington Virtual Instruction Program | 15 |
| Total Washington County School District | 3,305 |
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