For the 2025 school year, there are 17 public elementary schools serving 8,280 students in Highlands School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, 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 55%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public elementary school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
24 Schools
3,488 Schools
# Students
12,535 Students
2,038,029 Students
# Teachers
668 Teachers
118,158 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1
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 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 83% has increased from 72% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#54 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
48%
52%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
52%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
52%

Graduation Rate
83%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.71
# American Indian Students
38 Students
5,108 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
170 Students
57,983 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%
# Hispanic Students
4,788 Students
757,879 Students
% Hispanic Students
38%
37%
# Black Students
2,093 Students
426,370 Students
% Black Students
17%
21%
# White Students
4,858 Students
697,092 Students
% White Students
39%
34%
# Hawaiian Students
21 Students
3,394 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
567 Students
90,203 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
346
60,744
# Students in K Grade:
1,233
195,094
# Students in 1st Grade:
902
204,872
# Students in 2nd Grade:
908
211,537
# Students in 3rd Grade:
921
217,908
# Students in 4th Grade:
881
214,300
# Students in 5th Grade:
859
205,644
# Students in 6th Grade:
866
210,929
# Students in 7th Grade:
918
214,610
# Students in 8th Grade:
889
209,847
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,177
24,319
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,001
24,087
# Students in 11th Grade:
893
21,774
# Students in 12th Grade:
741
22,364
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,065 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,962. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,661 is less than the state median of $11,615. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$139 MM
$34,349 MM

Spending
$134 MM
$33,354 MM

Revenue / Student
$11,065
$11,962

Spending / Student
$10,661
$11,615

Best Highlands School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cracker Trail Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8200 Sparta Rd
Sebring, FL 33875
(863) 471-5777
Sebring, FL 33875
(863) 471-5777
Grades: K-5
| 736 students
Rank: #22.
Sun 'n Lake Elementary School
(Math: 56% | 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
Grades: PK-5
| 590 students
Rank: #33.
Lake Country Elementary School
(Math: 55% | 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
Grades: PK-5
| 628 students
Rank: #44.
Avon Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
705 Winthrop St
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4355
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4355
Grades: PK-5
| 553 students
Rank: #55.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 521 students
Rank: #66.
Highlands County Hospital/homebound Program
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Grades: K-12
| 21 students
Rank: #77.
Hill-gustat Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
4700 Schumacher Rd
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5437
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5437
Grades: 6-12
| 631 students
Rank: #88.
Sebring Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
500 E Center Ave
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5700
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5700
Grades: 6-8
| 787 students
Rank: #99.
Highlands Virtual School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Grades: K-12
| 133 students
Rank: #1010.
Woodlawn Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
817 Woodlawn Dr
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5444
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5444
Grades: PK-5
| 777 students
Rank: #1111.
Fred Wild Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3550 Youth Care Ln
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5400
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5400
Grades: PK-5
| 577 students
Rank: #1212.
Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 47% | 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
Grades: K-5
| 508 students
Rank: #1313.
Lake Placid Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
201 S Tangerine Ave
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5030
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5030
Grades: 6-8
| 598 students
Rank: #1414.
The Academy At Youth Care Lane
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4121 Youth Care Ln
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5457
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5457
Grades: 4-12
| 70 students
Rank: #1515.
Lake Placid Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
101 Green Dragon Dr
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5070
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5070
Grades: PK-5
| 548 students
Rank: #1616.
Avon Park Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
401 S Lake Ave
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4333
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4333
Grades: 6-8
| 602 students
Rank: n/an/a
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
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