Sparr Elementary School

Sparr Elementary School is a small, rural school in Anthony, FL, serving 435 students from Pre-K through 5th grade, with about 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, placing it in the bottom third of Florida elementary schools with a 1-star rating.

While Sparr's overall performance is low, it stands out for its stability compared to nearby schools that have experienced severe declines. For example, Wyomina Park Elementary and Oakcrest Elementary have recently fallen to the 3rd and 4th percentiles, while Sparr has consistently hovered between the 14th and 38th percentiles over the past decade. A bright spot is 5th-grade Science, where 43% of students are proficient—higher than the Marion district average of 50% and significantly better than nearby schools like Fessenden Elementary (27%) and Wyomina Park (44%). Additionally, Sparr's chronic absenteeism rate of 30.2% is notably lower than many peers, such as Wyomina Park (50.8%) and Fort McCoy School (44.3%), suggesting more consistent attendance.

Interestingly, Sparr shows stronger performance in Math than English Language Arts, with 4th-grade Math proficiency reaching 61% in 2023-2024, beating district and state averages. However, the nearby Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts is a stark contrast—a 5-star school in the 98th percentile with test scores nearly double Sparr's, but it serves a very different population with only 30.8% free/reduced lunch and 5% chronic absenteeism. Notably, Sparr spends $14,368 per student, more than Madison Street Academy ($13,295), showing that higher spending doesn't guarantee better outcomes. Despite its challenges, Sparr has shown resilience, with some test scores improving or holding steady even as district and state averages decline.