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Highlands School District

426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870-4048
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 school year, there are 9 public middle schools serving 2,845 students in Highlands School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Florida.
Public Middle Schools in Highlands School District have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Florida public middle school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
24 Schools
1,745 Schools
# Students
12,535 Students
1,042,011 Students
# Teachers
668 Teachers
54,708 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 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 83% has increased from 72% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (FL)
#54 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
48%
52%
42%
52%
44%
52%
83%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
38%
38%
% Black
17%
21%
% White
39%
34%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

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.
This School District
This State (FL)
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 Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Highlands County Hospital/homebound Program
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Grades: K-12
| 21 students
Rank: #22.
Hill-gustat Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
4700 Schumacher Rd
Sebring, FL 33872
(863) 471-5437
Grades: 6-12
| 631 students
Rank: #33.
Sebring Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
500 E Center Ave
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5700
Grades: 6-8
| 787 students
Rank: #44.
Highlands Virtual School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Grades: K-12
| 133 students
Rank: #55.
Lake Placid Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
201 S Tangerine Ave
Lake Placid, FL 33852
(863) 699-5030
Grades: 6-8
| 598 students
Rank: #66.
The Academy At Youth Care Lane
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4121 Youth Care Ln
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5457
Grades: 4-12
| 70 students
Rank: #77.
Avon Park Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
401 S Lake Ave
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 452-4333
Grades: 6-8
| 602 students
Rank: n/an/a
Highlands County Schools Jail Program
Alternative School
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5583
Grades: 8-12
| 3 students
Rank: n/an/a
426 School St
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 471-5610
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 24 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 12,535 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 61%
  • : 83% (Btm 50% in FL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 48% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education

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