Key West Reporter

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

Of the 8,908 students attending Monroe County schools, 41.4% were Hispanic. White students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 40.9% of Monroe County students.

In the previous school year, white students were the most common ethnicity in Monroe County, representing 42.8% of the student body.

Key West High School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 40.2% Hispanic students, 38.5% white students, 15.1% Black students, 3.5% multiracial students, and 2.5% Asian students.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in the county dropped 0.2% 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
Big Pine Academy	White	71.7%	99
Coral Shores High School	White	51.7%	753
Gerald Adams Elementary School	Black	38.4%	665
Horace O'Bryant School	Hispanic	49%	994
Key Largo School	Hispanic	60.3%	759
Key West High School	Hispanic	40.2%	1,302
Keys Center	White	< 10%	< 10
Lower Keys Academic Connections for Excellence	Black	< 10%	< 10
Marathon School	Hispanic	52.7%	772
May Sands Montessori School	White	67.4%	86
Monroe County Detention Center	Black	< 10%	< 10
Monroe Virtual Franchise	White	66.7%	18
Monroe Virtual Instruction Program	White	< 10%	< 10
Ocean Studies Charter	White	58.3%	180
Plantation Key School	White	58.2%	552
Poinciana Elementary School	Black	38%	552
Sigsbee Charter School	White	62.2%	545
Somerset Island Prep	White	53.9%	89
Stanley Switlik Elementary School	Hispanic	56.3%	593
Sugarloaf School	White	62%	678
Treasure Village Montessori Charter School	White	69.2%	195
Upper Keys Academic Connections for Excellence	Black	< 10%	< 10