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Palm River Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2163^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Palm River Elementary School in Tampa, FL, is a PK-5 public school serving 406 students within the Hillsborough school district, where over 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school has historically ranked in the bottom 5-10% of elementary schools in Florida.

The most critical challenge at Palm River is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.3% for the 2023-2024 school year, which is nearly 50% higher than the district and state averages of about 31%. This rate is among the worst in its peer group, with only James Elementary (55.5%) and Oak Park Elementary (53.1%) having higher rates. In contrast, nearby Desoto Elementary (29.3%) and Shore Elementary Magnet School (29.7%) have rates nearly 17 percentage points lower, despite serving similar demographics. Academic proficiency is consistently low, with 3rd grade ELA at 22% and 3rd grade math at 33%, far below district and state averages. However, there are glimmers of hope: 5th grade science proficiency jumped from 25% to 40% in the latest year, and 4th grade math has shown a 23-percentage-point increase over two years, reaching 43%.

Interestingly, Palm River spends more per student ($15,349) than many higher-performing peers, such as Frost Elementary ($10,957) and Shore Elementary ($14,449), yet achieves lower results—a paradox suggesting resources may need to be better targeted. A bright spot is Kenly Elementary, just 1.98 miles away, which serves a similar population (78% free/reduced lunch) but ranks in the 44th percentile (2 stars) versus Palm River’s 3rd percentile (0 stars), with 5th grade science (78%) and math (71%) nearly double Palm River’s rates. This proves that high poverty does not have to mean low performance, and Kenly’s strategies could offer a roadmap for improvement.

406

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,349

Per pupil spending ?

80.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

805 Maydell Dr
Tampa, FL 33619

(813) 744-8066

District: Hillsborough

Students who attend Palm River Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Giunta Middle School
High:	Blake High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

54.7%

African American:

33.0%

White:

9.6%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 7th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (35% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg58%

Florida avg62%

2,163^rd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

165^th of 175Elementary Schools in the Hillsborough

45^th of 70Hillsborough 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	8.5	2163 of 2240	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.8	2185 of 2258	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.5	2197 of 2256	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.1	2149 of 2240	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	1846 of 2219	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.5	2115 of 2247	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	17.5	1896 of 2182	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.3	2030 of 2118	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	9.0	2020 of 2112	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	10.7	1951 of 2087	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	9.7	1976 of 2064	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	9.5	1940 of 2029	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	15.6	1760 of 1984	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.8	1755 of 1985	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	26.3	1508 of 1919	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	16.3	1630 of 1847	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	7.0	1721 of 1789	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	10.9	1660 of 1786	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	10.1	1570 of 1688	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science40%-20 vs state

Math35%-30 vs state

English Language Arts33%-27 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Palm River Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 Geometry (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 Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Palm River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	805 Maydell Dr	Tampa	33619	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 744-8066	406	24	16.8	80.3%	39 (9.6%)	134 (33.0%)	222 (54.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.5%)	8.5	2163^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	3.4%		7.8	2185^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.2%	22	22.0	33.0	41.0				33.0	43.0	29.0				40.0					$15,349	$1,984	$13,366
Clair-Mel Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1025 S 78th St	Tampa	33619	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 744-8080	536	15	36.7	77.2%	36 (6.7%)	128 (23.9%)	365 (68.1%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	8.1	2169^th of 2240 public elementary schools	3.2%		8.4	2178^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.5%	9	24.0	30.0	38.0				30.0	37.0	48.0				34.0					$11,042	$1,499	$9,543
Bing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6409 36th Ave S	Tampa	33619	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 744-8088	480	29	16.7	70.8%	69 (14.4%)	92 (19.2%)	294 (61.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.6%)	11.9	2106^th of 2240 public elementary schools	6.0%		14.2	2055^th of 2258 public elementary schools	9.0%	51	32.0	39.0	34.0				40.0	48.0	50.0				22.0					$14,647	$2,077	$12,570
Kenly Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2909 N 66th St	Tampa	33619	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 744-8074	404	28	14.4	78.5%	29 (7.2%)	211 (52.2%)	139 (34.4%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.2%)	45.6	1256^th of 2240 public elementary schools	43.9%		38.2	1412^th of 2258 public elementary schools	37.5%	156	28.0	40.0	71.0				59.0	49.0	71.0				78.0					$16,204	$2,295	$13,910
Oak Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2716 N 46th St	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 740-7733	314	23	13.7	79.3%	20 (6.4%)	216 (68.8%)	58 (18.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.1%)	14	2062^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	7.9%		9.7	2155^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.6%	93	40.0	21.0	33.0				64.0	40.0	36.0				24.0					$15,765	$2,560	$13,205
Frost Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3950 S Falkenburg Rd	Riverview	33578	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 740-4900	633	33	19.4	63.3%	76 (12.0%)	283 (44.7%)	207 (32.7%)	10 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (8.8%)	17.7	1981^st of 2240 public elementary schools	11.6%		29.4	1665^th of 2258 public elementary schools	26.3%	316	47.0	53.0	48.0				43.0	36.0	39.0				33.0					$10,957	$1,391	$9,566
Desoto Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2618 Corrine St	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 276-5779	180	17	10.8	73.3%	16 (8.9%)	28 (15.6%)	134 (74.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	51.4	1104^th of 2240 public elementary schools	50.7%		55	988^th of 2258 public elementary schools	56.2%	116	43.0	46.0	61.0				93.0	92.0	57.0				48.0					$21,515	$2,335	$19,180
Literacy/Leadership/Technology Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	6771 Madison Ave	Tampa	33619	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	No	No	(813) 234-0940	437	22	20.1	8.7%	145 (33.2%)	60 (13.7%)	188 (43.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (9.2%)	26.7	1748^th of 2240 public elementary schools	22.0%		23.3	1819^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.4%	71	54.0	57.0	63.0	60.0	61.0	72.0	59.0	35.0	17.0	26.0	47.0	68.0	27.0	68.0	59.0	81.0	95.0	$9,671	$974	$8,697
The Collaboratory Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	6406 E Chelsea St	Tampa	33610	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	Yes	No	No	Yes	(844) 702-3123	61	2	30.5	13.1%	3 (4.9%)	37 (60.7%)	13 (21.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	7 (11.5%)	19.9	1928^th of 2240 public elementary schools	13.9%		17.7	1976^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.5%	48	53.0	45.0	29.0				47.0	45.0	47.0				47.0					$29,297	$1,005	$28,291
Shore Elementary Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1908 E 2nd Ave	Tampa	33605	Hillsborough County	Hillsborough	No	Yes	No	Yes	(813) 276-5712	330	25	13.2	63.3%	31 (9.4%)	178 (53.9%)	88 (26.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.7%)	38	1453^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	35.1%		43.3	1266^th of 2258 public elementary schools	43.9%	187	70.0	50.0	53.0				70.0	43.0	41.0				52.0					$14,449	$1,173	$13,275

Frequently Asked Questions about Palm River Elementary School

What district is Palm River Elementary School in?

Hillsborough

How many students attend Palm River Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 406 students attended Palm River Elementary School.

Is Palm River Elementary School a good school?

Palm River Elementary School ranks in the bottom 3.4% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Palm River Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Palm River Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Giunta Middle School
High : Blake High School

What is the racial makeup of Palm River Elementary School?

Students at Palm River Elementary School are 55% Hispanic, 33% African American, 10% White, 2% Two or more races.

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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.