Tallahassee Sun

Leon County school districts welcomed 34,909 students in the 2023-24 school year, 1.4% less than the previous year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Data also showed that the second-grade had the largest classes with 2,901 students, while pre-kindergarten had the least number of students that year with just 401 students.

Countywide, Leon County Schools District welcomed 31,769 pupils, welcomed the most students during the 2023-24 school year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Leon County.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to face a teacher shortage in the 2023-24 school year. Despite some improvements, the state reported nearly 4,800 instructional vacancies at the beginning of the year. According to the Florida Department of Education, core subjects such as English, reading, and math among the areas with the highest demand for teachers.

According to the National Education Association (NEA), Florida ranked 50th in the U.S. for teacher pay in the 2022-23 school year, with salaries lower than they were a decade ago when adjusted for inflation.

Governor DeSantis's budget for the 2024-25 school year allocates nearly $38 billion for education, with $1.25 billion dedicated to teachers' salaries and other instructional personnel.

District	Total Enrollment in 2023-24	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	% Change
Leon County Schools District	31,769	32,212	-1.4
FSU Lab School District	2,571	2,574	-0.1
FAMU Lab School District	569	621	-8.4