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 411 students enrolled in district’s seventh-grade in the 2023-24 school year, making up 9.6% of the student body in the district.
The number of students in the seventh-grade grew by 5.9% compared to the year before.
School District of DeSoto County also had a high enrollment for the eighth-grade, the second highest recorded in the district.
Within the district, Desoto Middle School had the most seventh-grade students in the 2023-24 school year. Hospital and Homebound, Reduced Services, and Desoto Virtual Franchise had the fewest.
Data showed that School District of DeSoto County enrolled a total of 4,286 students in the 2023-24 school year, the 22nd lowest enrollment in Florida.
It was also ranked 22nd 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 |
|---|---|
| Desoto County High School | 1,259 |
| Desoto Middle School | 1,011 |
| Desoto Secondary School | 68 |
| Desoto Virtual Academy | 0 |
| Desoto Virtual Franchise | 10 |
| Hospital and Homebound | 88 |
| Memorial Elementary School | 820 |
| Nocatee Elementary School | 416 |
| Reduced Services | 12 |
| West Elementary School | 684 |
| Total School District of DeSoto County | 4,286 |
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