In School Superintendent Jim Paul’s year, the Escambia County School District had 40,924 students and 2,974 total teachers – see Teachers 2008-09. The overall ratio of students to teachers was 13.76.
Over the past decade, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has cut the total number of teachers to 2,750 (see Teachers 2017-18) – 224 fewer teachers.
Meanwhile, the total number of students enrolled for 2017-18 school year was 40,612, only 312 fewer students than 2008-09 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education. The overall ratio of students to teachers has increased to 14.77.
Most of the cuts have been in the elementary schools, even though nearly half of them are on the state’s 300 Lowest Performing list. The district has 274 more elementary students but 116 fewer teachers. The ratio of elementary students to teachers has increased from 15.49 to 17.26.
Why isn’t Achieve Escambia doing this research?
| Grade | 2008-09 | 2017-18 | Difference |
| PK | 835 | 892 | 57 |
| KG | 3169 | 3,130 | -39 |
| 1 | 3171 | 3,040 | -131 |
| 2 | 3251 | 3,104 | -147 |
| 3 | 3237 | 3,445 | 208 |
| 4 | 3179 | 3,199 | 20 |
| 5 | 2997 | 3,303 | 306 |
| 19839 | 20,113 | 274 | |
| 6 | 3108 | 3,127 | 19 |
| 7 | 3028 | 2,946 | -82 |
| 8 | 3146 | 2,757 | -389 |
| 9 | 3813 | 3,280 | -533 |
| 10 | 2948 | 2,943 | -5 |
| 11 | 2688 | 2,723 | 35 |
| 12 | 2354 | 2,723 | 369 |
| 21085 | 20499 | -586 | |
| Total | 40,924 | 40,612 | -312 |
| 2008-09 | 2017-18 | Difference | |
| All Teachers | 2974 | 2,750 | -224 |
| Ratio | 13.76 | 14.77 | |
| Elementary | |||
| Teachers | 2008-09 | 2017-18 | Difference |
| 1281 | 1165 | -116 | |
| Ratio | 15.49 | 17.26 |