Enrollment at Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind decreased by 78.3% compared to previous school year

FL Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. 2023 | Commissioner of Education

By Palm Coast Times

Aug 21, 2024

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind 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 108 students enrolled in the institution in the academic year.

Data reveals that the majority of students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year were white, representing 55% of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind total enrollment.

Additionally, the largest portion of students in the institution are enrolled in high school grades, making up 54.7% of the total enrollment.

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind covers five schools within St. Johns County, with its main office in St. Augustine.

Among the five schools in Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, Deaf High School (FSDB) recorded the highest enrollment of 171 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.

Enrollment in Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Over 7 Years