Highlands School District
School District · Sebring, Florida
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
22
9 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,175
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
22
9 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,175
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
How this district compares
Florida rank
#15 of 71
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Florida avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,585
+$824 vs Florida median
District size
12,175 students
Typical than Florida median
The short answer
Highlands ranks #15 of 71 Florida districts by overall school rating. Highlands's schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 18 schools. Its top-rated schools are Lake Placid Elementary School (8.8/10), Park Elementary School (8.5/10), and Avon Elementary School (8.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.8/10 despite 85% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Highlands schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Highlands
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (18 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Placid Elementary School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Park Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Avon Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Lake Country Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Lake Placid Middle School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Cracker Trail Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Sun 'n Lake Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Fred Wild Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Memorial Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Hill-Gustat Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Highlands
Highlands is a Sebring, Florida school district serving 22 schools.The district educates 12,175 students with a student-teacher ratio of 18.6:1. District-level spending was $12,585 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.7/10, Highlands demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Lake Placid Elementary School, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Highlands students show an average math proficiency of 52.9% and ELA proficiency of 48.8%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Highlands, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Highlands with test data.
Schools in Highlands
22 schoolsElementary Schools9
High Schools5
District Details
- State
- Florida
- City
- Sebring
- Total Enrollment
- 12,175
- Teachers (FTE)
- 654
- District spending per student
- $12,585NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 20.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Highlands?
Highlands has 22 schools in total — 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Highlands?
The average composite rating for Highlands is 6.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Highlands?
Highlands's district-level spending was $12,585 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Highlands?
The average student-teacher ratio in Highlands is 18.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Highlands?
Lake Placid Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Highlands with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Highlands?
Across schools in Highlands with test data, the average math proficiency is 52.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 48.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Highlands compare to other districts in Florida?
Highlands has an average school rating of 6.7/10 across 22 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Florida by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 52.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 48.8%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in FL
Compare Highlands with neighboring districts in the state.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
Related reading
- AI in Schools Keeps Making Headlines. Here's What's Actually Going On.ai in education
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The $1,700 Loophole: How the New Federal School Choice Tax Credit Lowers Private Tuition Billsschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.