Florida Top 10 SWD School Districts

Ranked by SWD Support Score • Academic Performance • Special Education Infrastructure

Data current as of May 2026 from public government records

Acronyms used on this page — hover or tap for the full term

Methodology

Academic Performance

College readiness test results and the percentage of students meeting state standards in math and reading. Reflects overall instructional quality all students receive.

Special Education Support Quality

Whether specialist staff — SLP, OT, school psychologist, nurse, and BCBA — are physically present at the school in sufficient numbers for the students being served.

Program & Intensity Fit

Whether the school has the right classroom program for the severity level of students served. A resource room for Mild needs. A specialized SDC for Severe needs. Mismatch lowers the score.

T1 — Mild

RSP/Resource Room. Learning disabilities, speech, mild ADHD. Shared specialists acceptable.

T2 — Moderate

SDC Mild/Moderate. Mild autism, intellectual disability. Most specialists on-site.

T3 — Mod-Severe

SDC Moderate/Severe. All primary specialists must be on-site full-time.

T4 — Severe

Specialized center. Medically complex. Full dedicated staffing required. Shared nurse triggers an automatic critical warning.

District Rankings

Score legend:85–100 Excellent75–84 Good65–74 Moderate55–64 Low0–54 Critical

#	District	County	Tier	Students	SAT	Math %	ELA %	SWD %	▼ SWD Support Score	IEP-Ready Score	★
1	Seminole County SD ✅ No vacancy	Seminole	T2 Moderate	67,000	1110	59	66	14.8	68	67	2
2	St. Johns County SD ✅ No vacancy	St. Johns	T3 Mod-Severe	44,000	1200	66	71	13.5	67	70	2.5
3	Okaloosa County SD ✅ No vacancy	Okaloosa	T2 Moderate	31,000	1120	60	66	14	67	67	2
4	Nassau County SD ✅ No vacancy	Nassau	T2 Moderate	15,000	1100	57	64	14.2	65	65	2
5	Brevard County SD ✅ No vacancy	Brevard	T2 Moderate	73,000	1090	56	63	15.5	65	65	2
6	Clay County SD ✅ No vacancy	Clay	T2 Moderate	41,000	1080	55	63	14.8	63	63	2
7	Manatee County SD ✅ No vacancy	Manatee	T2 Moderate	51,000	1060	53	61	15	63	62	1.5
8	Sarasota County SD ✅ No vacancy	Sarasota	T2 Moderate	43,000	1140	62	67	15.2	61	65	2.5
9	Collier County SD ✅ No vacancy	Collier	T2 Moderate	48,000	1095	57	64	14.5	61	63	2
10	Pasco County SD 🔎 Vacancies · Indeed	Pasco	T2 Moderate	71,000	1050	52	59	15.8	61	61	1.5

SWD% shown for context only and not used in any score. Hover the SWD Support Score and IEP-Ready Score headers to see how they differ.

District Profiles

Seminole County SD

SWD: 68/100

Sanford, Seminole · 83 schools · 67,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2

1110

SAT · Acad 66

59% / 66%

Math / ELA

14.8%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ⚠️ Shared

SWD Support — Moderate Program:ESE compliance strong; full SLP & OT on-site; SDC all levels

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Seminole County SD.

St. Johns County SD

SWD: 67/100

St. Augustine, St. Johns · 51 schools · 44,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 3 — Mod-Severe

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2.5

1200

SAT · Acad 72

66% / 71%

Math / ELA

13.5%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ⚠️ Shared

SWD Support — Mod-Severe Program:Strong ESE matrix; on-site SLP & OT; full SDC range Mild through Severe

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at St. Johns County SD.

Okaloosa County SD

SWD: 67/100

Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa · 39 schools · 31,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2

1120

SAT · Acad 67

60% / 66%

Math / ELA

14%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ⚠️ Shared

SWD Support — Moderate Program:ESE continuum; SLP & OT on-site; dedicated SDC programs

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Okaloosa County SD.

Nassau County SD

SWD: 65/100

Fernandina Beach, Nassau · 18 schools · 15,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2

1100

SAT · Acad 65

57% / 64%

Math / ELA

14.2%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:ESE coordinator per school; SLP & OT on-site

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Nassau County SD.

Brevard County SD

SWD: 65/100

Melbourne, Brevard · 97 schools · 73,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2

1090

SAT · Acad 64

56% / 63%

Math / ELA

15.5%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Strong ESE STEM integration; SDC range; SLP on-site at all schools

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Brevard County SD.

Clay County SD

SWD: 63/100

Green Cove Springs, Clay · 46 schools · 41,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2

1080

SAT · Acad 64

55% / 63%

Math / ELA

14.8%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:ESE coordinator system; SDC Mild/Mod; SLP on-site; OT shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Clay County SD.

Manatee County SD

SWD: 63/100

Bradenton, Manatee · 65 schools · 51,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 1.5

1060

SAT · Acad 62

53% / 61%

Math / ELA

15%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ✅Nurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Full ESE range; Matrix Level support Mild through Severe; SLP on-site; OT shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Manatee County SD.

Sarasota County SD

SWD: 61/100

Sarasota, Sarasota · 57 schools · 43,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2.5

1140

SAT · Acad 68

62% / 67%

Math / ELA

15.2%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ⚠️ SharedBCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Full matrix Level support; on-site SLP; dedicated ESE coordinators; nurse shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Sarasota County SD.

Collier County SD

SWD: 61/100

Naples, Collier · 57 schools · 48,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 2

1095

SAT · Acad 65

57% / 64%

Math / ELA

14.5%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ✅Psych: ✅Nurse: ⚠️ SharedBCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:Bilingual ESE programs; on-site SLP & OT; SDC Mild through Severe; nurse shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

✅ No current special-ed vacancies reported at Collier County SD.

Pasco County SD

SWD: 61/100

New Port Richey, Pasco · 88 schools · 71,000 students

SWD Support Score

Intensity: Tier 2 — Moderate

IEP-Ready Score

★ 1.5

1050

SAT · Acad 61

52% / 59%

Math / ELA

15.8%

SWD (info only)

SLP: ✅OT: ⚠️ SharedPsych: ⚠️ SharedNurse: ✅BCBA: ✗

SWD Support — Moderate Program:ESE centers; SDC all levels; SLP on-site most campuses; OT and psychologist shared

🟢 Search this district at iepguide.org for school-level SWD%, SDC programs, and on-site specialist staffing.

🔎 Search live special-ed openings at Pasco County SD on Indeed →

Some specialist staffing is estimated from district averages and may not reflect every campus. Source: IDEA §618 personnel data (2024–25). Confirm with the district before placement decisions.

Florida State IEP Guide — Downloadable Resource

A complete guide to the IEP process in Florida — state-specific timelines, terminology, parent rights, and how to use iepguide.org for school placement research.

View Online Download PDF

For informational purposes only. Does not constitute legal advice.

For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified special education advocate or attorney for guidance specific to your child's situation.

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