Rock Island Elementary School

Rock Island Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a PK-5 public school serving 468 students in the Broward County School District, and it has recently achieved a remarkable academic turnaround that sets it apart from many nearby schools.

After years of ranking in the bottom third of Florida elementary schools, Rock Island has surged to the 59th percentile statewide, earning a 3-star rating for the 2025-2026 school year—a dramatic jump from its 1-star rating just two years prior. This explosive growth is most evident in the upper grades: in 4th grade, Rock Island leads its immediate neighbors with a 76% proficiency rate in math and 70% in ELA, outperforming the district and state averages as well as nearby schools like Dillard Elementary and Wilton Manors Elementary. In 5th grade, math proficiency stands at 69%, and science at 56%, beating several peers such as North Fork Elementary and Walker Elementary. This success is particularly noteworthy given that the school has a 69% free/reduced lunch rate and has historically struggled with chronic absenteeism, which remains above the district average. The school’s high spending of $15,737 per student appears to be yielding strong results, unlike some neighbors that spend more but rank lower.

An interesting pattern emerges when looking at grade-level performance: while 3rd-grade scores are competitive but not dominant, 4th-grade scores explode, suggesting a particularly strong teaching team or intervention program at that level. However, 5th-grade ELA drops to 48%, well below the district average, indicating a need for continued focus. Rock Island now directly competes with the high-performing charter school Somerset Village Academy in 4th-grade ELA and 5th-grade science, a significant achievement for a traditional public school. This rapid improvement, which saw the school jump 980 places in state ranking in two years, makes Rock Island a potential model for effective urban school turnaround.