Total enrollment
54,208
+5,363 (+11%) vs SY 2020-21
Manatee County
Florida · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Manatee County number 86, teaching approximately 54,208 Florida students against a population of 429,792. The level mix is 49 elementary, 12 middle, and 14 high schools.
4-year change in Manatee County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
79
+1 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Manatee County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Florida | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 54.7% | #34 of 63 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 54,208 | #15 of 65 | #206 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 79 | #14 of 65 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 17.5:1 | #32 of 65 | #2,381 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 51.3% | #28 of 65 | #1,555 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 66.0% | #19 of 64 | #278 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Manatee County school rankings
Residents
429,792
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
86
2 districts
Enrollment
54,208
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,457
Above Florida avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.3%
Below Florida avg
Elementary
49
25,946 students
Middle
12
8,234 students
High
14
16,379 students
Combined / other
11
3,649 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
MANATEE
54,208 students · 2 districts in Manatee County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Manatee County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
35.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.6%
civilian labor
Median age
50
17.5% under 18
Test scores in Manatee County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 63 schools ranked. Florida state average: 57.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Manatee County
About Manatee County
In Florida, Manatee County is a broad county of about 429,792 residents. 86 public schools across the county hosts about 54,208 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $78,457, about 35% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 15% higher than the Florida median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Manatee County consists of 49 elementary schools (25,946 students), 12 middle schools (8,234), 14 high schools (16,379), and 11 combined or other schools.
MANATEE is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 54,208 students across Manatee County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment climbed 11%: 48,845 students in SY 2020-21 versus 54,208 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 78 to 79 across the same 4-year window.
On this page, the community for Manatee County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data