Leon County Schools is spending significantly more per student than comparable school districts in several staffing categories, according to a 2025/26 peer group comparison that examines administrative, non-teacher instructional, and student support staffing costs.
TR has previously published comparison data on the number of staff members. This report looks at the dollars being spent the staff.
The comparison includes five similarly sized Florida school districts: Leon, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Alachua, and Bay counties. Leon County Schools has a student population of 30,964, placing it near the top of the peer group. The analysis found that Leon’s spending exceeds the peer group average in three of the four staffing categories reviewed.
The largest difference is in non-teacher instructional staff, which includes positions outside the traditional classroom setting that support instruction. Leon spends approximately $16.54 million in this category, compared to the peer group average of $12.22 million. That represents about $4.32 million more than the average district in the comparison.
Leon also spends more on school administration than its peers. The district allocates approximately $26 million for school administrative staffing, compared to the peer average of $19.33 million. The difference of $6.68 million is the largest staffing gap identified in the analysis.
The third category where Leon exceeds its peers is student support staff. Leon spends $13.4 million, while the average among comparable districts is $14.98 million. Unlike the other categories, Leon is actually below the peer average in this area by approximately $1.58 million.
Combined, the analysis shows Leon County Schools spending approximately $9.42 million more than the peer group average across the three staffing categories when adjusted for the differences identified.
Overall staffing costs for Leon total approximately $55.94 million, compared with the peer group average of $46.52 million. Among the districts studied, only Alachua County’s total staffing-related expenditures ($52 million) were closer to Leon’s level. Okaloosa County spent $47.39 million, Santa Rosa spent $46.30 million, and Bay County spent $40.40 million.
The comparison comes as Leon County Schools faces discussions about future funding needs, enrollment trends, and a proposed property tax referendum intended to generate additional revenue for district operations.
District officials have argued that additional funding is necessary to maintain educational programs and address rising costs. Critics have questioned whether the district should first evaluate existing staffing levels and spending patterns before seeking additional taxpayer support.
The data highlights areas where Leon’s spending patterns differ substantially from similar-sized school systems and may prompt further discussion about staffing priorities and resource allocation.
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