wauchula gazebo

A History of Educational Excellence, Tradition & Pride

Welcome to Hardee County

Our home is a small county of approximately 30,000 inhabitants in Florida’s Heartland, the west central section of the state. Hardee County is home to many citrus groves, lush pastures, dairies, and horticultural nurseries. It is nestled along the banks of the serene Peace River, and provides locals and visitors with beautiful sights at Paynes Creek State Park, Pioneer Park, and Hardee Lakes County Park. Both parks provide many hours of trails and leisure activity.

When you come to Hardee County, you will enjoy the leisurely lifestyle of rural, country living, and within an hour, you can immerse yourself in the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Local businesses provide great shopping facilities in the county, and family-friendly events are sure to bring on fun and laughter at Main Street Wauchula. Entertainment and activities abound with area county fairs, rodeos, Pioneer Days, Florida State Fair, and nearby professional sporting events. Theme parks, such as Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and Legoland are just a short drive from Hardee County.

You may arrive at one of the major airports (Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Bradenton/Sarasota), which are nearby.

Come enjoy our temperate winter climates, and the warm Southern hospitality offered to you by the citizens of Hardee County.

District Demographics

The Hardee County School District is comprised of nine schools….five elementary schools, one junior high school, one high school, one alternative school, and one adult/community school. The school district serves approximately 4,800 students, of which, 27% are Caucasian, 63% Hispanic, and 7% African American. The approximately 365 certified professionals and 265 support staff are guided by an elected superintendent and five school board members who serve four-year terms.

Hardee School District Highlights

  • Accredited by AdvancED (now Cognia)

  • Member of the Heartland Educational Consortium

  • Partnership with South Florida Community College for Dual Enrollment Classes and Collegiate Students

  • Award-winning business partnership program with local companies such as MOSAIC, Mid-Florida Credit Union, Suncoast Federal Credit Union, and Wauchula State Bank

  • Support from the Hardee Education Foundation; a non-profit organization that supports Hardee County educational programs with private funds *Ask us about the HEF Reverse Scholarship!

  • Full-time Guidance Counselors and Media Specialists at all schools

  • Instructional Support Coaches at all school sites

  • Award-winning tradition in athletics as evidenced by a long running list of district championships

  • Multi-faceted exceptional student education pro-gram

  • Variety of vocational programs aligned with rigorous state standards

  • Active adult and community education program

  • Active school and district parent volunteer program

  • Comprehensive ESOL program

  • District and school-level parent advisory committees

  • Federally-funded title programs that assist teachers and schools with materials and other funding needs

  • Research based in-service and professional development activities throughout the district

  • An active STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program that facilitates our success at region-al, state and national K-12 Science Fairs

  • Technology-infused with over 7,200 tools including desktop computers, laptop computers, iPads, smart-boards, Chromebooks, digital readers, and musical theater

  • AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program at the secondary schools and select elementary school sites

  • Outstanding scores on district and state assessments as witnessed by our high scores in reading, math, and science

peace river

View of the beautiful Peace River, which bisects the county from north to south

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