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C

Hardee County School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 3 towns

Serves Wauchula, Bowling Green and Zolfo Springs.

Wauchula’s School Grade C better than 26% of Florida school districts

Students
4,547
Schools
9
Spent per student
$12,694
FL $13,006
Students per teacher
17:1
Free or reduced lunch
75%
Debt
$1.6M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Hardee County School District

  • Its letter, C: results better than 26% of Florida districts
  • Reading proficiency 6 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 7 pts below the state
  • 17 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 7.9% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $1.6M, about $353 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C: better than 26% of the 76 Florida school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math below the state, 2021–22
C+
GraduationFour-year graduation well below the state, class of 2023
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
CWauchula 4,946CBowling Green 2,448CZolfo Springs 1,754

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Wauchula. Grade by grade →

PK–5Wauchula Elementary SchoolThis district
6–12Hardee Junior High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. FL

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency50%
State average 52.2% · 2,725 students tested
Reading / language arts46%
State average 52.1% · 2,901 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)81%
State average 88% · 365 in the class

95% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

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%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

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 2020–21.

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

9 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools.

Wauchula Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Wauchula
B−
577 students16:1
North Wauchula Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Wauchula
B+
516 students14:1
Zolfo Springs Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Zolfo Springs
A−
512 students15:1
Hilltop Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Wauchula
A−
298 students16:1
Bowling Green Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bowling Green
A−
260 students14:1
Hardee Virtual Franchise
Other · Grades K–12 · Wauchula
C+
52 students
Hardee Junior High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Wauchula
C+
958 students17:1
Pioneer Career Academy
High · Grades 6–12 · Wauchula
D
27 students27:1
Hardee Senior High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Wauchula
C−
1,347 students22:1

Left off: 2 schools reporting no students for 2024–25.

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Florida.