Nature Coast Times

Citrus 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 115 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 88% of the Citrus County School District total enrollment.

Additionally, the largest portion of students in the district are enrolled in elementary school grades, making up 43.5% of the total enrollment.

Citrus County School District covers 24 schools within Citrus County, with its main office in Inverness.

Among the 24 schools in Citrus County School District, Lecanto High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,763 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
Lecanto High School	1,763
Citrus High School	1,486
Crystal River High School	1,312
Inverness Middle School	1,007
Crystal River Middle School	911
Citrus Springs Elementary School	856
Lecanto Primary School	811
Lecanto Middle School	797
Citrus Springs Middle School	793
Hernando Elementary School	785
Central Ridge Elementary School	764
Inverness Primary School	698
Forest Ridge Elementary School	698
Crystal River Primary School	667
Rock Crusher Elementary School	645
Pleasant Grove Elementary School	633
Homosassa Elementary School	387
Floral City Elementary School	384
Academy of Environmental Science	115
Crest School	109
Srmi @ Renaissance Center	90
Cypress Creek Treatment Center	63
Pace Center for Girls	23
Camp E-Nini Hassee	21