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Mary Esther Elementary School

Q: Is Mary Esther Elementary School a good school?

Mary Esther Elementary School ranks 1139 th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1139^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Mary Esther Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 444 students in grades PK-5 in the Okaloosa School District in Florida. The school faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates, lower-than-average test scores, and a high percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Compared to nearby schools in the same district, Destin Elementary and Eglin Elementary have significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism and free/reduced lunch rates. On the other hand, Longwood Elementary and Shalimar Elementary have lower test scores and higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to Mary Esther Elementary. Additionally, Liza Jackson Preparatory School, a public charter school, outperforms Mary Esther Elementary and the district/state averages on most metrics.

Despite spending more per student than the district and state averages, Mary Esther Elementary's academic performance lags behind. The school's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past several years, suggesting the need for the school to identify and implement strategies to improve student outcomes and close the performance gap with its peers.

438

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,053

Per pupil spending ?

73.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy
Mary Esther, FL 32569

(850) 833-3371

District: Okaloosa

Students who attend Mary Esther Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Max Bruner Junior Middle School
High:	Fort Walton Beach High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

37.7%

Hispanic:

27.4%

African American:

20.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Mary Esther Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 45th percentile in 2022 → 50th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 50th (2025) from a 45th-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Science scores 10 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg63%

Florida avg58%

1,139^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 25 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 50% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 20Elementary Schools in the Okaloosa

12^th of 67Okaloosa 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
2025	48.8	1139 of 2258	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.2	1016 of 2256	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.7	924 of 2240	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	1228 of 2219	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.2	1156 of 2247	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.8	945 of 2182	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.6	848 of 2118	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.7	664 of 2112	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.6	525 of 2087	74.8%	★★★★☆
2014	57.1	885 of 2064	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.8	945 of 2029	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.9	741 of 1984	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.5	663 of 1985	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	69.5	592 of 1919	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.4	549 of 1847	70.3%	★★★★☆
2008	75.2	406 of 1789	77.3%	★★★★☆
2007	70.7	521 of 1786	70.8%	★★★★☆
2006	71.9	480 of 1688	71.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math58%-3 vs state

English Language Arts57%~ state avg

Science45%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mary Esther Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)						FAST Math (2025)						Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Mary Esther Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy	Mary Esther	32569	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3371	438	26	16.8	73.3%	165 (37.7%)	89 (20.3%)	120 (27.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	59 (13.5%)	48.8	1139^th of 2258 public elementary schools	49.6%		53.2	1016^th of 2256 public elementary schools	55.0%	123	46.0	67.0	64.0				48.0	67.0	62.0				45.0					$11,053	$872	$10,181
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7 Wright Pkwy SW	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3333	490	29	16.8	76.9%	197 (40.2%)	80 (16.3%)	149 (30.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (12.2%)	39.4	1376^th of 2258 public elementary schools	39.1%		35	1489^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.0%	113	61.0	51.0	50.0				53.0	48.0	53.0				43.0					$13,181	$1,420	$11,760
Wright Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 Lang Rd	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3580	609	36	16.9	80.6%	134 (22.0%)	79 (13.0%)	323 (53.0%)	9 (1.5%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	59 (9.7%)	19.4	1933^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	14.4%		22.2	1843^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	18.3%	90	37.0	34.0	40.0				39.0	55.0	43.0				35.0					$11,387	$963	$10,425
Liza Jackson Preparatory School	Public, Charter	K-8	1123 Hospital Rd	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 833-3321	977	60	16.2	21.8%	664 (68.0%)	73 (7.5%)	125 (12.8%)	32 (3.3%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	77 (7.9%)	90	168^th of 2258 public elementary schools	92.6%		88.3	223^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	90.1%	55	82.0	69.0	80.0	89.0	75.0	83.0	87.0	72.0	93.0	93.0	94.0	90.0	84.0	78.0	100.0	100.0	95.0	$8,182	$86	$8,096
Elliott Point Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Hughes St NE	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3355	583	34	17.1	74.6%	263 (45.1%)	84 (14.4%)	159 (27.3%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	68 (11.7%)	37.3	1437^th of 2258 public elementary schools	36.4%		42.5	1278^th of 2256 public elementary schools	43.4%	159	53.0	53.0	44.0				62.0	59.0	40.0				40.0					$11,650	$1,118	$10,533
Florosa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 W Highway 98	Mary Esther	32569	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4381	539	31	17.3	56.4%	251 (46.6%)	68 (12.6%)	137 (25.4%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	72 (13.4%)	78.6	437^th of 2258 public elementary schools	80.6%		77.2	474^th of 2256 public elementary schools	79.0%	37	68.0	73.0	69.0				72.0	76.0	67.0				70.0					$10,973	$1,020	$9,954
Kenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	15 Eagle St NE	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3570	471	34	13.8	67.1%	227 (48.2%)	52 (11.0%)	114 (24.2%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	70 (14.9%)	38.7	1397^th of 2258 public elementary schools	38.1%		59.9	866^th of 2256 public elementary schools	61.6%	531	35.0	52.0	57.0				38.0	51.0	62.0				52.0					$13,844	$1,235	$12,610
Longwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Holly Ave	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4329	555	34	16.3	76.6%	133 (24.0%)	65 (11.7%)	291 (52.4%)	13 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	49 (8.8%)	9.8	2154^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.6%		19.9	1903^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	15.6%	251	30.0	32.0	33.0				40.0	36.0	35.0				24.0					$11,639	$996	$10,644
Shalimar Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 Joe Martin Cir	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4339	557	32	17.4	68.8%	288 (51.7%)	52 (9.3%)	140 (25.1%)	12 (2.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (11.3%)	43.8	1249^th of 2258 public elementary schools	44.7%		51.3	1066^th of 2256 public elementary schools	52.7%	183	38.0	66.0	53.0				59.0	67.0	52.0				41.0					$10,507	$809	$9,699
Eglin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	200 Gaffney Rd	Eglin Afb	32542	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 833-4320	436	25	17.4	31.9%	187 (42.9%)	61 (14.0%)	107 (24.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	77 (17.7%)	68.9	667^th of 2258 public elementary schools	70.5%		77.5	464^th of 2256 public elementary schools	79.4%	203	73.0	63.0					70.0	63.0										$10,203	$338	$9,865

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Esther Elementary School

Is Mary Esther Elementary School a good school?

Mary Esther Elementary School ranks 1139^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Mary Esther Elementary School in?

Okaloosa

How many students attend Mary Esther Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 438 students attended Mary Esther Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Mary Esther Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mary Esther Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Max Bruner Junior Middle School
High : Fort Walton Beach High School

What is the racial makeup of Mary Esther Elementary School?

Students at Mary Esther Elementary School are 38% White, 27% Hispanic, 20% African American, 13% 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.