East Panhandle News

Black students made up the largest ethnic group enrolled in Madison County County school districts during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Of the 2,300 students attending Madison County schools, 45.4% were Black. White students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 42.9% of Madison County students.

In the previous school year, Black students were also the most common ethnicity in Madison County, representing 49.1% of the student body.

Lee Elementary School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 59.4% white students, 20.6% Hispanic students, and 16.5% Black students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 4.9% when compared to the previous year.

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.

School Name	Most Prevalent Ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Greenville Elementary School	Black	91.7%	96
James Madison Preparatory High School	White	60.7%	196
Joann Bridges Academy	Black	< 10%	13
Lee Elementary School	White	59.4%	170
Madison County Central School	Black	65.3%	802
Madison County High School	Black	54.3%	488
Madison Creative Arts Academy Inc.	White	80.3%	390
Madison Virtual Franchise	Black	< 10%	12
Pinetta Elementary School	White	62.4%	133