Panama City Reporter

Bay County school district welcomed 27,675 students in the 2023-24 school year, 1.3% more than the previous year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Data also showed that the third-grade had the largest classes with 2,225 students, while pre-kindergarten had the least number of students that year with just 706 students.

Bay District Schools has a main office in Panama City and is the only school district within Bay 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
Bay District Schools	27,675	27,324	1.3