Panama City Reporter

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

Of the 1,915 students attending Gulf County schools, 76.8% were white. Black students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 10.2% of Gulf County students.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common ethnicity in Gulf County, representing 77.5% of the student body.

Port St. Joe Elementary School and Port St. Joe High School had the most diverse student body in the county, including Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, multiracial, and Alaskan Native or American Indian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 0.7% 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
Port St. Joe Elementary School	White	69.3%	512
Port St. Joe High School	White	71.3%	515
PreK Ese	White	52.6%	19
Wewahitchka Elementary School	White	85.9%	488
Wewahitchka High School	White	84%	381