Palm Coast Times

Putnam County School District had a decrease in student enrollment during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education. Overall, there was a total of 664 students enrolled in the district in the academic year.

Data reveals that the majority of students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year were white, representing 58% of the Putnam County School District total enrollment.

Additionally, the largest portion of students in the district are enrolled in elementary school grades, making up 46.8% of the total enrollment.

Putnam County School District covers 15 schools within Putnam County, with its main office in Palatka.

Among the 15 schools in Putnam County School District, Palatka Jr. - Senior High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,606 students in the 2023-24 school 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	Total Enrollment
Palatka Jr. - Senior High School	1,606
Interlachen Junior-Senior High School	1,068
Middleton-Burney Elementary School	1,053
Crescent City Junior-Senior High School	994
Kelley Smith Elementary School	752
Browning-Pearce Elementary School	664
William D. Moseley Elementary School	585
James A. Long Elementary School	542
Melrose Elementary School	507
Q. I. Roberts Jr. - Senior High School	495
Ochwilla Elementary School	399
Mellon Learning Center	291
The Children's Reading Center	260
Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences	195
Putnam Virtual Franchise	37