North Panhandle News

white students made up the largest ethnic group enrolled in Holmes County County school districts during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Of the 3,201 students attending Holmes County schools, 86.2% were white. Multi students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 5.4% of Holmes County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common ethnicity in Holmes County, representing 87.9% of the student body.

Holmes County High School had the most diverse student body in the county, including Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, and Alaskan Native or American Indian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 1% when compared to the previous year.

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 Name	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Bethlehem High School	White	92.3%	378
Bonifay K-8 School	White	83.3%	1,182
Graduation Assistance Program	White	79.5%	78
Holmes County High School	White	86.6%	485
Holmes Virtual-Franchise FLVS	White	88.9%	27
Ponce De Leon Elementary School	White	91.3%	286
Ponce De Leon High School	White	91.4%	313
Poplar Springs High School	White	82.1%	452