In spring 2026, 55% of Highlands County students in grades 3 to 10 read on grade level. That is 6 points below the state (61%) and up 3 points from 52% in 2025. The district serves about 13,067 students.
Open Highlands on the interactive mapHighlands County's reading rate rose 3 points this year; the state as a whole rose 4 points. The district spent $11,663 per student in 2024-25 from state, local and federal funds, $132 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.
| Children under 18 below the poverty line, 2020-2024 | 17.1% | State 16.5% |
| Children who started kindergarten ready, fall 2024 | 32% | State 43% |
| Advertised teacher vacancies per 1,000 students, January 2026 | 0.3 | State 0.9 |
| English learners, approximate share of students | ≈4.7% | State ≈10.2% |
Kindergarten readiness and child poverty track reading rates more closely than anything else measured across Florida's 67 districts.
Highlands County had no school tax question on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Twenty-seven other Florida counties did, and voters approved 26 of them.
A homesteaded home assessed at $350,000 pays an estimated $1,724 a year in school property taxes in Highlands 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands | 55% | +3 | 32% |
| Bay | 61% | +5 | 39% |
| Baker | 57% | +4 | 32% |
| Citrus | 55% | +3 | 37% |
| Bradford | 55% | +2 | 34% |
| Levy | 53% | +2 | 33% |
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.