Hendry County Schools report historic academic gain; superintendent outlines budget, safety and new high school timeline

Mike Swindle, superintendent of Hendry County Schools, told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 that the district earned a B classification for the first time and outlined a $236 million budget that includes phased funding for a new LaBelle High School.

The superintendent said the district scored 60 points under the state grading system — a gain that moved the district from a historical “C” classification into a “B.” He also told the board Hendry County Schools enroll about 7,311 students, employ roughly 1,000 people and expect a budget that reflects about $30 million in high-school construction costs.

The district’s new standing matters because state school grades are a shorthand for local academic performance and influence how parents and businesses evaluate a community’s schools, Swindle said.

Swindle described several components he credited for the growth:…