Sherwood Elementary School

Sherwood Elementary School in Melbourne, FL, is a mid-sized public school serving 493 students in grades PK-6 within the Brevard district, and it stands out as a remarkable example of a school achieving high academic outcomes despite serving a community where over 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

What makes Sherwood truly special is its consistent upward climb in performance. After years as a 3-star school, it has recently earned a 4-star rating and now ranks in the top quarter of all Florida elementary schools. Its 6th graders are a powerhouse, with 85% proficient in English Language Arts and 83% in math—scores that rival those at more affluent schools like Surfside Elementary and Longleaf Elementary. Fifth-grade science is another standout, with 80% of students proficient, far exceeding the district and state averages. The school also benefits from a low student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1, which is smaller than nearby schools like Roy Allen Elementary and Suntree Elementary, allowing for more individualized attention.

Sherwood’s success is even more impressive when compared to its neighbors. Just 0.8 miles away, Longleaf Elementary has a much lower poverty rate (23% free/reduced lunch) and ranks slightly higher (83rd percentile), but Sherwood is right on its heels (77th percentile) despite serving a much higher-needs population. In contrast, Dr. W.J. Creel Elementary, which has a similar poverty rate, ranks in the bottom 10% of the state. This shows that Sherwood’s leadership and instructional quality are the real drivers of its success. While chronic absenteeism (17%) is higher than at some top-performing peers, it is far lower than at other high-poverty schools in the area, and the school’s strong test scores prove that when students are in class, they are learning effectively.