Is your child turning 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026? It's time to register and become a Cracker Trail Mustang! 🤠
📅 Registration is Open for all Kindergarten through 5th Grade Students!
🕣 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
📋 Please bring the following documents:
✅ Original Birth Certificate
✅ Florida Immunization Record
✅ Physical Exam (dated within 12 months of the first day of school)
✅ Proof of Residence (mortgage, lease, utility bill, etc.)
✅ Proof of Custody (if applicable)
✅ Parent/Guardian Photo ID
⭐ Important Deadlines & Dates
📌 Register by noon on Friday, July 31, 2026 for your child to receive their homeroom teacher assignment at Open House.
📌 Open House is Tuesday, August 4, 2026 from 5 PM to 7 PM.
📌 Register by 2:30 PM on Friday, August 7, 2026 to help ensure your child is ready to begin school on the first day, Tuesday, August 11.
We can't wait to welcome our newest Mustangs to the herd! ❤️💙 Come join the Cracker Trail Elementary family and get ready for an amazing school adventure!
#CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #MustangRegistration #FutureMustangs #HighlandsCountySchools #BackToSchool #MustangPride
Whether your student is looking to explore a new passion or get ahead, we offer incredible courses in:
🔬 STEM
🎨 Fine Arts
💼 Career & Technical Education (CTE)
📚 Core Academics (Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies—including Honors!)
💻 Virtual Learning
We are an authorized StepUp for Students provider! We accept payments directly through the EMA portal as well as direct pay options. This program is specifically designed for non-traditional students who may be utilizing the FTC or FES school choice scholarships.
Access to a district Chromebook is fully included in your course enrollment price. Accidental Chromebook damage is covered by paying an annual $10 use fee.
Note: Highlands PLUS is for non-enrolled students, meaning SBHC acts as a contracted service provider. Participants are not enrolled as full-time public school students.
👉 Ready to customize your child's education? Log into your StepUp EMA portal or visit our district website at https://www2.highlands.k12.fl.us/plus to explore courses and begin enrollment today!
#HighlandsPLUS #StepUpForStudents #SchoolChoice
A huge THANK YOU to our amazing Mustang Banner Sponsors for your generous support during the 2025–2026 school year! Your partnership helps our students, staff, and school community continue to run strong each and every day.
As we saddle up for another incredible school year, we'll be reaching out once school is back in session regarding banner renewals.
🤠 Ready to ride with the Mustangs? We'd love to showcase your business as one of our Banner Sponsors! It's a great way to support our school while gaining visibility in our community.
For more information about becoming a Banner Sponsor, please contact Mrs. Lee in the front office. We'd love to have you join the herd!
Thank you for helping our Mustangs stay on the trail—we couldn't do it without our incredible community partners! ❤️
#TogetherWeRunStrong #CrackerTrailElementary #MustangPride #JoinTheHerd #SupportOurMustangs #CommunityPartners #BannerSponsor #GallopingTogether #ThankYouSponsors #MustangStrong
We are incredibly grateful to Chen Dental for their generosity and support of our school community! As part of their commitment to giving back through their core value of Generous, they presented Cracker Trail Elementary with a wonderful Welcome Back to School gift basket during their quarterly All Team Meeting.
Thank you for investing in our students, staff, and schools. Community partnerships like yours help us start the school year feeling encouraged and supported!
A special thank you to Mrs. Byrd and Mrs. Rowe for representing Cracker Trail Elementary at the presentation. We appreciate you proudly representing our Mustang family!
Together, we truly run strong because of amazing community partners like Chen Dental. 💙💛🐎
#CrackerTrailElementary #CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #MustangPride #CommunityPartners #ThankYouChenDental #SupportOurSchools #HighlandsCounty #WelcomeBack #MustangStrong
🐎☀️ Mustang Daycare Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2026-2027 School Year! ☀️🐎
Looking for a safe, fun, and caring place for your child before and after school? Our Cracker Trail Elementary Daycare Program is now accepting registrations!
📚 Now Enrolling:
⭐ Pre-K through 5th Grade
🔹 Only 10 Pre-K spots available
🔹 Only 25 First Grade spots available
💲 Registration Fee: $25 per family
💙 Special pricing is available for Highlands County School Board employees!
Weekly Tuition:
• $60 – First Child
• $55 – Each Additional Child
Don't wait—spaces are limited and fill quickly!
👉 Register today using the link below!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdy397Qj70a_m6b3OTBEE0WAra89-QsdI_x6iMqiU7FwoROmw/viewform
#CrackerTrailElementary #MustangDaycare #TogetherWeRunStrong #CTEMustangs #AfterSchoolCare #HighlandsCountySchools #MustangFamilies
🎒✏️ School Supply Lists Are Here! 🐎
It's time to get your Mustangs ready for an amazing school year! Supply lists for Pre-K through 5th Grade are now available for the 2026-2027 school year.
🛍️ Pick up your school supplies now and bring them to Open House!
📅 Open House
🕔 Tuesday, August 4
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📦 If you're bringing supplies to Open House, please place them in a bag labeled with your child's name.
We can't wait to welcome our Mustangs back as we kick off another great year—Together We Run Strong! ❤️🐎
#CrackerTrailElementary #CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #SchoolSupplies #OpenHouse #BackToSchool #MustangReady #HighlandsCountySchools
Our hallways are awfully quiet right now... but not for long! 💙💛 We can't wait to hear the laughter, excitement, and hoofbeats of our Cracker Trail Mustangs filling these halls again on the first day of school - Tuesday, August 11, 2026! 🎉
🌟 Registration is OPEN for Kindergarten through 5th Grade! 🌟
So, gallop on in and get your Mustang registered! Our front office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The countdown is on... and we can't wait to welcome our Mustang family back for another amazing year as we Together We Run Strong! 🐎❤️
#CrackerTrailElementary #TogetherWeRunStrong #MustangPride #GallopIntoSuccess #BackToSchool2026 #FutureMustangs #CTERocks #SeeYouAugust11
As part of our ongoing commitment to student and staff safety, construction crews are hard at work widening the sidewalks along our bus loop. These enhancements will provide additional space for students and staff during arrival and dismissal, helping create a safer and more efficient environment for our Mustang family.
We are grateful for the work being done behind the scenes to ensure our campus is ready for another successful school year. Every improvement helps our Mustangs run a little stronger!
🐴 Together We Run Strong! 🐴
#CrackerTrailElementary #MustangPride #TogetherWeRunStrong #CTEMustangs #StudentSafety #SchoolImprovements #GrowingForOurStudents #MustangStrong #ReadyFor2627
Our Mustang campers are diving into creativity, teamwork, and fun with this year’s summer daycare theme, "Under the Sea Adventure!" Today’s featured activity: Jellyfish! 🪼
One of the best parts of summer camp is seeing our older students step up to help our younger Mustangs. Using the art skills all of our students developed in our MI Lab, students are creating together.
From colorful sea creatures to hands-on learning adventures, our campers are making a splash all summer long! 🌊💙
#CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #UnderTheSeaAdventure #MustangPride #SummerCampFun #FutureLeaders #HandsOnLearning #CrackerTrailElementary #MustangsMakingWaves 🐎🌊
❤️🤍💙 Happy 4th of July, Mustangs! 💙🤍❤️
From all of us at Cracker Trail Elementary, we wish our students, staff, and families a safe, fun, and joyful Independence Day!
Today, we proudly celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, the spirit of our nation, and a very special milestone—Happy 250th Birthday, America!🎉
Whether you're enjoying fireworks, spending time with loved ones, or making summer memories, we hope your day is filled with laughter, gratitude, and Mustang pride.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday!
🐎❤️ Together We Run Strong! ❤️🐎
#CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #Happy4thOfJuly #America250 #HappyBirthdayAmerica #MustangPride #RedWhiteAndBlue #StarsStripesAndMustangs #LandOfTheFree #HomeOfTheBrave
In honor of Independence Day and the 250th birthday of the United States of America, the Cracker Trail Elementary front office and Summer Daycare will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026.
We will reopen on Monday, July 6, 2026, ready to welcome our Mustangs back!
We wish all of our CTE families a fun, safe, and memorable holiday weekend as we celebrate America's 250 years of freedom. 🎆🐎
Happy 4th of July!
#CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #Happy4thOfJuly #America250 #MustangPride #StarsStripesAndMustangs #RedWhiteAndBlue #SafeHolidayWeekend
As we prepare to welcome our Mustangs back for another great school year, please review our clinic procedures for student medications and medical documentation.
💊 Medication Drop-Off Begins: Monday, August 3, 2026
👨👩👧👦 Parents/Guardians Must Bring Medications to School and meet with Nurse Dean. Students are not permitted to transport medications to school.
📋 Required Medical Forms must be dated July 1, 2026, or later to be accepted for the 2026-2027 school year.
Please see the flyer for complete details and requirements. Thank you for helping us keep our Mustangs safe, healthy, and ready to learn!
#CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #BackToSchool #SchoolNurse #MustangFamily #StudentSafety #ReadyForLearning #SummersAlmostGone
🎉🐎 Congratulations, Mustangs! 🐎🎉
We are proud to announce that Cracker Trail Elementary has earned a "B" School Grade! 🌟
Our Mustangs earned 61 out of 100 points, and this achievement is a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and teamwork of our entire school community.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible students, hardworking staff, supportive families, and community partners. Your commitment to learning and growing together made this success possible!
Mr. K., our principal, shared these words: "We are incredibly proud of our students and staff. This year everyone worked hard and we grew together. Our 'B' is a milestone worth celebrating, and it's only the beginning. Together, We Run Strong!"
Congratulations, Mustangs! Let's celebrate this accomplishment and keep building on our success as we continue striving for excellence. 💙💛🐎
#CTEMustangs #TogetherWeRunStrong #BSchool #MustangPride #StudentSuccess #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #GrowingTogether #CelebratingSuccess #HighlandsCountySchools #GoMustangs
A huge thank you to Ms. Sonia, our fabulous Plant Manager, and her dedicated HES crew for all of their hard work this summer. From moving everything out of classrooms to stripping floors, deep cleaning, and applying fresh wax, they are working tirelessly to make sure our campus is clean, safe, and shining for the 2026-2027 school year.
We appreciate the care, pride, and effort they put into our school every day. Thank you for helping prepare a welcoming environment for our Mustangs to learn, grow, and succeed! 💙💛
#CrackerTrailElementary #CTEMustangs #MustangPride #SummerCleanup #BehindTheScenes #ThankYouHESCrew #ReadyFor2627 #MustangsLeadTheWay #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork 🐴✨
📚❤️ South Florida State College Gives Back! ❤️📚
In celebration of Read Across America, we were excited to welcome several staff members from South Florida State College into our kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms earlier this year!
As part of their volunteer outreach to elementary schools across Highlands County, SFSC team members spent time reading with our students and sharing their love of books. 📖✨
Our young learners absolutely loved having special guest readers, and we truly appreciate the time, energy, and heart they poured into our classrooms. Thank you for helping us inspire a love of reading in our Mustangs! 🐴💙
#CTEMustangs #CTERocks #SFSCGivesBack #ReadAcrossAmerica #HighlandsCountySchools #ElementaryEducation #CommunityPartners #MustangPride #ReadersAreLeaders
We're taking another trip down memory lane with CTE's 1992-1993 Faculty & Staff Photo!
After blazing a trail of success during its very first year, this incredible herd of educators and staff members was ready to saddle up for year two. Check out those shirts featuring CTE's original logo—a true piece of Mustang history! 🐎⭐
So, Mustangs, we have a few challenges for you:
👀 Were you here then?
🍎 Is your teacher in this picture?
🐴 Can you identify the ONE current Mustang still working at CTE today?
🏫 Can you tell us what area of the school they worked in back then?
Drop your answers and memories in the comments! We love celebrating the people and moments that helped make CTE the special place it is today.
#CTEMustangs #MustangPride #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #MustangLegacy #OriginalMustangs #CTEHistory #OnceAMustangAlwaysAMustang #GallopingThroughTheYears #MustangMemories
Our Mustang campers are diving into creativity and fun with this year’s summer daycare theme, "Under the Sea Adventure!" A special thank you to the SHS Art Department for donating their amazing artwork from this year's Soup Up the Arts event. The beautiful pieces have helped transform our space into an underwater wonderland!
Each week, campers create their own sea creatures and explore ocean-inspired activities. To make the adventure even more exciting, our Mustangs are swimming like fish twice a week at the SHS pool!
Thank you to our school partners for helping make this summer unforgettable for our campers. 💙🌊
#CTEMustangs #UnderTheSeaAdventure #SummerCampFun #MustangPride #CrackerTrailElementary #CommunityPartnerships #SoupUpTheArts #MakingWaves
This spring, members of the CTE Art Club had an incredible opportunity to visit South Florida State College's Art Department for a day filled with creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning!
Students rotated through three engaging experiences:
🖌️ The Drawing Studio, where they practiced gesture drawing using teapots and live models.
🌊 The Suminagashi Experience, learning the ancient Japanese art of paper marbling.
🖼️ A guided tour of MOFAC led by SFSC Curator Mrs. Tomberlin, where students explored a variety of artistic works and exhibits.
The day concluded with an exciting clay-throwing demonstration by artist Jim Fetzer, giving students a firsthand look at the art of pottery creation. Of course, no college visit would be complete without lunch at the longtime SFSC favorite, Kelly's Bistro!
Thank you to South Florida State College for providing our Mustangs with an inspiring experience that encouraged creativity, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for the arts. Huge Thanks to our field trip organizer and art club sponsor Mrs. Kristine Sebring, co-sponsor Mrs. Debbie LaBarr, and chaperone Mrs. Nancy Nichols. We are proud of our young artists for representing CTE so well!
#CTEMustangs #MustangPride #CTEArtClub #FutureArtists #ArtsEducation #CreativeMustangs #SFSC #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #MustangExperiences #CreatingMemories
Take a ride back in time with us to 1991-1992 when CTE first opened its doors! This classic faculty and staff photo features the amazing herd of educators and support staff who welcomed our very first Mustangs and helped build the foundation of the school we know and love today.
Thirty-plus years later, their legacy is still galloping strong! 🐎⭐
Were you a student at CTE back then? Is your teacher in this picture? Can you identify CTE's first principal and assistant principal? Drop your guesses, memories, and shout-outs in the comments below!
Thank you to the original Mustangs who helped make CTE a special place from day one. 💙
#CTEMustangs #MustangPride #ThrowbackThursday #TBT #MustangLegacy #OnceAMustangAlwaysAMustang #CTEHistory #BuildingTraditions #MustangFamily #GallopingThroughTheYears
The team from Excavation Point was hard at work clearing overgrowth from our school's southernmost retention pond, and our daycare students had a front-row view of the action—from a safe distance, of course! 🚜🌿
There's something fascinating about watching big equipment in action, and our Mustangs enjoyed every minute of the show while watching some important work that helps keep our campus safe and looking its best.
Thank you to Excavation Point for helping maintain our school grounds!
#CrackerTrailElementary #MustangPride #CTEMustangs #FutureMustangs #LearningEverywhere #CommunityPartners #ExcavationPoint #MustangStrong
