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Fort White Elementary School

Q: Is Fort White Elementary School a good school?

Fort White Elementary School ranks 1607 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1607^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 28% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Fort White Elementary School is a PK-5 school in the rural town of Fort White, Florida, serving 644 students within the Columbia County School District. While the school has historically earned solid ratings, it has experienced a significant decline in recent years, dropping from the 60th percentile statewide in 2019 to the 28th percentile in the 2025-2026 school year, resulting in a 1-star rating.

A key concern is a sharp drop-off in student performance after 3rd grade. For example, in the 2025-2026 school year, 71% of 3rd graders were proficient in math—outperforming both the district and state averages—but that number fell to just 47% by 5th grade. This pattern suggests the school effectively teaches foundational skills but struggles to help students transition to more complex problem-solving in upper grades. Additionally, Fort White has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 36.6%, which is significantly higher than nearby higher-performing schools like Westside Elementary School (25.5%) and High Springs Community School (22.3%). This absenteeism is likely a major factor in the school's academic struggles.

On a positive note, Fort White's per-student spending ($9,796) is the lowest among its Columbia County peers, but it is not an outlier compared to the state. The nearby Alachua Learning Academy Elementary (a small charter school with a 5-star rating and only 11.5% chronic absenteeism) demonstrates that high performance is achievable in the same region, likely due to a different educational model and higher student engagement. For parents, the most critical areas to watch are the school's efforts to improve attendance and provide stronger instructional support for 4th and 5th graders to reverse the current downward trend.

644

Students ?

17.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,796

Per pupil spending ?

63%

Free/discounted lunch ?

18119 SW State Road 47
Fort White, FL 32038

(386) 344-6301

District: Columbia

Students who attend Fort White Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Fort White High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.6%

Hispanic:

18.2%

African American:

8.5%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Fort White Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2016 → 28th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (52% vs 62% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 35 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 18 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg61%

Florida avg62%

1,607^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 28%▼ down 34 pts since 2016

From top 37% (2016) to bottom 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Columbia

36^th of 70Columbia among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	32.4	1607 of 2240	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.8	1528 of 2258	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.9	1403 of 2256	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.5	1084 of 2240	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	1024 of 2219	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.7	989 of 2247	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.0	862 of 2182	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.4	1101 of 2118	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	60.5	812 of 2112	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.2	779 of 2087	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	60.1	815 of 2064	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.1	773 of 2029	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.2	748 of 1984	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	66.1	700 of 1985	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	61.9	775 of 1919	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	65.1	667 of 1847	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.0	642 of 1789	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	57.6	795 of 1786	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	41.3	1023 of 1688	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math57%-8 vs state

English Language Arts51%-9 vs state

Science42%-18 vs state

★

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Schools Near Fort White Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Fort White Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	18119 SW State Road 47	Fort White	32038	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 344-6301	644	37	17.4	63.0%	429 (66.6%)	55 (8.5%)	117 (18.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (6.2%)	32.4	1607^th of 2240 public elementary schools	28.3%		33.8	1528^th of 2258 public elementary schools	32.3%	79	52.0	47.0	54.0				71.0	53.0	47.0				42.0				$9,796	$1,194	$8,602
High Springs Community School	Public	PK, KG-8	1015 N Main St	High Springs	32643	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(386) 454-1958	902	51	17.5	40.9%	605 (67.1%)	93 (10.3%)	123 (13.6%)	12 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	65 (7.2%)	67.3	699^th of 2240 public elementary schools	68.8%		69.9	643^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	71.5%	56	71.0	66.0	65.0	66.0	70.0	68.0	73.0	65.0	63.0	85.0	84.0	50.0	74.0	56.0	88.0	86.0
Columbia City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7438 SW State Road 47	Lake City	32024	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 758-4850	585	36	16.2	53.0%	435 (74.4%)	37 (6.3%)	71 (12.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.7%)	59.5	890^th of 2240 public elementary schools	60.3%		42.7	1283^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	43.2%	393	70.0	70.0	60.0				77.0	59.0	54.0				61.0				$10,929	$1,291	$9,637
Branford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	26801 State Road 247	Branford	32008	Suwannee County	Suwannee	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 935-5700	712	39	18.2	59.3%	548 (77.0%)	17 (2.4%)	122 (17.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.5%)	50.8	1121^st of 2240 public elementary schools	50.0%		51.9	1073^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	52.5%	48	66.0	58.0	57.0				73.0	61.0	41.0				65.0				$10,000	$1,589	$8,412
Bell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2771 E Bell Ave	Bell	32619	Gilchrist County	Gilchrist	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 463-3275	656	37	17.6	51.4%	534 (81.4%)	14 (2.1%)	92 (14.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.3%)	53.9	1048^th of 2240 public elementary schools	53.2%		53.3	1033^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	54.3%	15	86.0	52.0	54.0				90.0	61.0	48.0				57.0				$12,288	$1,480	$10,808
Westside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1956 SW County Road 252b	Lake City	32024	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8280	695	40	17.3	43.9%	448 (64.5%)	98 (14.1%)	55 (7.9%)	22 (3.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (10.1%)	70.2	627^th of 2240 public elementary schools	72.0%		78.5	442^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	80.4%	185	67.0	68.0	67.0				78.0	71.0	72.0				64.0				$9,752	$1,148	$8,603
Alachua Elementary School	Public	3-5	13800 NW 152nd Pl	Alachua	32615	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 462-1841	323	24	13.6	60.4%	129 (39.9%)	118 (36.5%)	54 (16.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (6.5%)	25.3	1783^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	20.4%		25.6	1766^th of 2258 public elementary schools	21.8%	17	39.0	51.0	48.0				32.0	46.0	61.0				51.0
W. W. Irby Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	13505 NW 140th St	Alachua	32615	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 462-5002	372	26	14.1	58.9%	168 (45.2%)	126 (33.9%)	53 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (6.2%)								(n/a)
Alachua Learning Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	11100 W State Road 235	Alachua	32615	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(386) 418-2080	108	6	18.0	42.6%	60 (55.6%)	3 (2.8%)	31 (28.7%)	4 (3.7%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.3%)	85.5	249^th of 2240 public elementary schools	88.9%		88.2	223^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	90.1%	26	83.0	68.0	88.0				72.0	95.0	81.0				81.0
Summers Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1388 SW McFarlane Ave	Lake City	32025	Columbia County	Columbia	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 755-8250	492	31	15.8	72.0%	182 (37.0%)	200 (40.7%)	58 (11.8%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (9.3%)	22.6	1858^th of 2240 public elementary schools	17.1%		30.4	1628^th of 2258 public elementary schools	27.9%	230	45.0	36.0	49.0				56.0	53.0	48.0				42.0				$10,811	$1,346	$9,466

Frequently Asked Questions about Fort White Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Fort White Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Fort White Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Fort White High School

What is the racial makeup of Fort White Elementary School?

Students at Fort White Elementary School are 67% White, 18% Hispanic, 9% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Is Fort White Elementary School a good school?

Fort White Elementary School ranks 1607^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Fort White Elementary School in?

Columbia

How many students attend Fort White Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 644 students attended Fort White Elementary School.

Rate Fort White Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.