Panama City Reporter

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

Of the 27,675 students attending Bay County district schools, 61.6% were white. Black students were the second largest ethnicity in Bay County district (14.6%).

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Bay County district, representing 62.1% of the student body.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county increased by 1.3% 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.

District	Most prevalent ethnicity	Percent of Total Student Body	Total Enrollment
Bay District Schools	White	61%	27,675