High Schools in Okeechobee

Okeechobee, Florida, is served by a single high school, Okeechobee High School, which educates approximately 1,718 students in grades 9-12 within the Okeechobee school district, a district ranked 69th out of 70 in the state.

The most critical issue facing Okeechobee High School is its chronic absenteeism rate of 63.6%, which is more than double the state average of 31.4% and significantly impacts all other academic metrics. While the school's graduation rate of 86.6% is higher than the district average of 83.7%, it remains well below the state average of 92.2%. Academically, the school shows relative strength in Biology 1 (59% proficient) and US History (55% proficient), though these scores still trail state averages. Math is a clear weakness, with only 26% of students proficient in Algebra 1, less than half the state average of 63%. On a positive note, English Language Arts (ELA) scores showed modest year-over-year improvement, with 9th grade rising from 50% to 55% proficient and 10th grade from 42% to 47% proficient.

The school serves a high-poverty population, with 75.84% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and has a high student-to-teacher ratio of 19.8:1. Per-pupil spending is $11,645. The school's state percentile rank has remained stagnant between the 30th and 34th percentile over the last three school years, indicating no clear trend of improvement or decline. While Okeechobee High School outperforms its district in several areas like Geometry, Biology, and ELA, this is relative to a district that is near the bottom statewide. The combination of high absenteeism, large class sizes, and significant poverty creates a challenging environment that any improvement strategy must first address.