Hamilton County public schools

In spring 2026, 44% of Hamilton County students in grades 3 to 10 read on grade level. That is 17 points below the state (61%) and up 6 points from 38% in 2025. The district serves about 1,769 students.

Open Hamilton on the interactive map

44%reading on grade level, 2026

$13,047spent per student, 2024-25

33%ready for kindergarten, fall 2024

20.6%of children in poverty

Reading and spending

Hamilton County's reading rate rose 6 points this year; the state as a whole rose 4 points. The district spent $13,047 per student in 2024-25 from state, local and federal funds, $1,516 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	20.6%	State 16.5%
Children who started kindergarten ready, fall 2024	33%	State 43%
Advertised teacher vacancies per 1,000 students, January 2026	0.6	State 0.9
English learners, approximate share of students	≈9.7%	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

Hamilton County had no school tax question on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Twenty-seven other Florida counties did, and voters approved 26 of them.

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 Hamilton 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

Reading on grade level rose 6 points in a year, ahead of the state's 4.

Districts like Hamilton

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
Hamilton	44%	+6	33%
Liberty	61%	+2	37%
Bradford	55%	+2	34%
Gulf	54%	+5	33%
Washington	54%	+0	36%
Taylor	50%	+4	35%

What you can do in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.