C+
Hardee County School District
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 3 towns
Serves Wauchula, Bowling Green and Zolfo Springs.
Students
4,547
Schools
11
Spent per student
$12,694
FL $13,006
Students per teacher
17:1
Free or reduced lunch
75%
Debt
$1.6M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Hardee County School District
- School Grade C+: better than 40% of Florida districts
- Reading / language arts 6 pts below the state
- 17 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 7.9% since 2020
- Debt of $1.6M, about $353 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Wauchula.
PK–5Wauchula Elementary SchoolThis district
6–12Hardee Junior High SchoolThis district
Test scores vs. FL
2020–21Math proficiency46%
State average 47.9%
Reading / language arts46%
State average 52%
Graduation rate (4-year)91%
State average 90.3%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$12,694 per student · 2% below FL
Spending
Classroom instruction 54%Support & administration 41%Other 6%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 27%State 45%Federal 28%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
4,939’20
4,941’21
4,901’22
4,725’23
4,547’24
Down 7.9% since 2020.
Students
Hispanic 63%White 29%Black 6%Two or more races 2%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
11 public schools.
Wauchula Elementary School
B−577 students16:1
North Wauchula Elementary School
B+516 students14:1
Zolfo Springs Elementary School
A−512 students15:1
Hilltop Elementary School
A−298 students16:1
Bowling Green Elementary School
A−260 students14:1
Hardee Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
0 students
Hardee Senior High School
C−1,347 students22:1
Hardee Junior High School
C+958 students17:1
Pioneer Career Academy
D27 students27:1
Hardee Virtual Franchise
C+52 students
Hardee Virtual Instruction Program
0 students
Towns served
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.