In spring 2026, 59% of Leon County students in grades 3 to 10 read on grade level. That is 2 points below the state (61%) and up 4 points from 55% in 2025. The district serves about 34,724 students.
Open Leon on the interactive mapLeon County's reading rate rose 4 points this year; the state as a whole rose 4 points. The district spent $10,648 per student in 2024-25 from state, local and federal funds, $883 less 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 | 17.5% | State 16.5% |
| Children who started kindergarten ready, fall 2024 | 45% | State 43% |
| Advertised teacher vacancies per 1,000 students, January 2026 | 0.6 | State 0.9 |
| English learners, approximate share of students | ≈3.3% | State ≈10.2% |
Kindergarten readiness and child poverty track reading rates more closely than anything else measured across Florida's 67 districts.
On November 3, 2026, Leon County voters approved school funding measure: New 1 mill property tax and renewed ½-cent sales tax. The millage was projected at about $24 million a year for teacher pay and security. The sales tax renewal runs 15 years for technology, safety, transportation and facilities.
Two measures were on the ballot. The result here is the county-level outcome reported by WUSF.
Pledged for: Teacher pay and security (property tax). Technology, safety, transportation and facilities (sales tax). Expected to raise: About $24 million a year from the property tax. No spending report has been published yet.
Source: Leon County Schools; Tallahassee Reports
A homesteaded home assessed at $350,000 pays an estimated $2,049 a year in school property taxes in Leon County, at about 6.305 mills, including 1 voter-approved mill. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon | 59% | +4 | 45% |
| Collier | 67% | +6 | 44% |
| Indian River | 67% | +5 | 43% |
| Alachua | 59% | +4 | 41% |
| Martin | 59% | +4 | 48% |
| Hernando | 57% | +4 | 42% |
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.