Parker Elementary School

Parker Elementary School in Panama City, FL, is a mid-sized school serving 510 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within the Bay County School District, where over 70% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Parker Elementary has historically struggled academically, ranking in the bottom 20-30% of Florida elementary schools for most of the past decade. However, the most recent data shows a significant positive shift, with the school jumping to the 33rd percentile—its highest ranking in over eight years. This improvement is particularly notable when compared to nearby Callaway Elementary School, which serves a similar population but has seen a decline from the 60th to the 30th percentile over the same period. Parker’s 5th-grade science scores are a relative strength, with 61% of students proficient—matching the state average and exceeding the district average. In contrast, math remains a significant weakness, with only 42% of 5th graders proficient, a full 20 points behind the state average. This "two-speed" academic profile suggests that the school may have an especially effective science program, while math instruction needs improvement.

Chronic absenteeism is a critical challenge, with 40.9% of students chronically absent in the 2023-2024 school year—higher than the district average of 35.3% and the state average of 31.4%. This rate is much higher than at high-performing nearby schools like Bay Haven Charter Academy (21.8%) and Tyndall Academy (17.5%). Notably, Parker spends $11,939 per student, which is more than Bay Haven ($9,065) and Tyndall ($10,981), indicating that funding alone is not the issue. The school’s recent upward trend—from the 10th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 33rd percentile in 2025-2026—offers cautious optimism, suggesting that efforts to improve attendance and academics may be starting to work.