Virgil Mills Elementary School

Virgil Mills Elementary School in Palmetto, FL, serves 863 students in grades PK-5 and is part of the Manatee district, where it has historically been a strong performer but recently experienced a dip in its state ranking. For years, the school consistently earned a 4-star rating, outperforming many nearby schools like Blackburn Elementary School and Manatee Elementary School, which have struggled in the bottom percentiles. However, its most recent 3-star rating places it behind rising peers such as Freedom Elementary School and Annie Lucy Williams Elementary School, signaling a need for attention.

A standout strength is the school’s 5th-grade English Language Arts (ELA) performance, where 68% of students are proficient—beating both the district and state averages. This is a key differentiator from nearby schools like Palm View K-8 School and James Tillman Elementary Magnet School, which lag in this area. Additionally, Virgil Mills maintains low chronic absenteeism (24.4%) compared to the district average (29.4%), outperforming even more affluent schools like Parrish Charter Academy. On the other hand, early-grade math scores have declined—3rd-grade math proficiency dropped from 74% to 69% over recent years—which may explain the overall ranking slip.

Virgil Mills serves a moderately diverse student body, with 44% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, placing it between high-poverty schools like Blackburn Elementary School (80%) and more affluent ones like Barbara A Harvey Elementary School (38%). Its per-student spending ($11,191) is moderate, yet it still outperforms the nearby Parrish Charter Academy in nearly every subject, despite that school having fewer students in poverty. This suggests Virgil Mills delivers solid value, but the recent decline in math scores and state ranking indicates it may need to refocus on foundational math instruction to regain its former 4-star status.