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Gulf County public schools

In spring 2026, 54% of Gulf County students in grades 3 to 10 read on grade level. That is 7 points below the state (61%) and up 5 points from 49% in 2025. The district serves about 1,759 students.

Open Gulf on the interactive map

Reading and spending

Gulf County's reading rate rose 5 points this year; the state as a whole rose 4 points. The district spent $13,640 per student in 2024-25 from state, local and federal funds, $2,109 more than the state average of $11,531. Across Florida, spending per student shows no clear link to reading rates, because higher spending often reflects higher need or a small district.

What sits behind the score

Children under 18 below the poverty line, 2020-2024	17.5%	State 16.5%
Children who started kindergarten ready, fall 2024	33%	State 43%
Advertised teacher vacancies per 1,000 students, January 2026	2.3	State 0.9
English learners, approximate share of students	≈1.1%	State ≈10.2%

Kindergarten readiness and child poverty track reading rates more closely than anything else measured across Florida's 67 districts.

The November 2026 school tax vote

On November 3, 2026, Gulf County voters approved a new school funding measure: ½-cent sales tax.

Source: FEA voter toolkit

What a home pays for schools

A homesteaded home assessed at $350,000 pays an estimated $1,724 a year in school property taxes in Gulf County, at about 5.305 mills. This uses the statewide average for the state-required rate and leaves out debt levies, so your tax bill will differ. Try your own home value.

Wins

• Voters approved school funding on November 3, 2026.
• Reading on grade level rose 5 points in a year, ahead of the state's 4.

Districts like Gulf

The five Florida districts most similar in size, child poverty and kindergarten readiness. A fairer comparison than the state average.

District	Reading 2026	Change	Ready for kindergarten
Gulf	54%	+5	33%
Liberty	61%	+2	37%
Baker	57%	+4	32%
Bradford	55%	+2	34%
Holmes	53%	+3	38%
Hamilton	44%	+6	33%

What you can do in Gulf County

• If your child is under 5: sign up for free books by mail, and claim free pre-K at age 4 through the Florida Early Learning Family Portal. All four steps
• If your child is in school: write the Gulf County School Board using a draft built from these numbers.
• If you want to help: give through the county's education foundation, fund a teacher's request or tutor a reader. Ways to help

Sources

Reading: Florida Department of Education, spring 2026 FAST English Language Arts results. Spending: FLDOE per-pupil expenditure report, 2024-25. Poverty: Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 via FLHealthCHARTS. Kindergarten readiness: FLDOE, fall 2024. Vacancies: Florida Education Association count, January 8, 2026. English learners: FLDOE, spring 2024. Enrollment: 2026-27 state funding calculation. Full sources and limits.