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Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

1738^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 22% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary is a PK-5 school in Riviera Beach, FL, serving 529 students within the Palm Beach School District, where 75.8% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school has historically ranked in the bottom 10-20% of Florida elementary schools, but recent data shows a significant upward trend. In the 2025-2026 school year, Bethune jumped to the 22nd percentile—its highest rank in years—driven by notable gains in 3rd-grade Math and English Language Arts. For example, 66% of 3rd graders were proficient in Math, matching the state average and outperforming nearby Washington Elementary Magnet School (51%) and Lincoln Elementary (not specified). However, the school faces a severe challenge with chronic absenteeism: 50.2% of students were chronically absent in 2023-2024, more than double the district average and the highest in the area. This paradox—improving academics despite high absenteeism—suggests that students who attend regularly are learning effectively, but the school must address attendance to sustain progress.

Performance varies by grade level. While 3rd graders excel, 5th-grade proficiency drops to 34% in ELA and 42% in Math, both below district averages. A bright spot is 5th-grade Science, where 38% proficiency exceeds nearby Lake Park Elementary (35%) and Grove Park Elementary (38%). Compared to Northboro Elementary, which serves a similar low-income population but ranks in the 64th percentile with only 11.9% chronic absenteeism, Bethune’s potential is clear. If the school can reduce absenteeism and support upper-grade students, it could follow Northboro’s path to stronger, more consistent outcomes.

529

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,076

Per pupil spending ?

75.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1501 Avenue U
Riviera Beach, FL 33404

(561) 882-7600

District: Palm Beach

Students who attend Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary usually attend:

High:

William T. Dwyer High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

86.8%

Hispanic:

6.2%

White:

5.1%

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Compare Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 6th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (49% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (50% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg63%

Florida avg62%

1,738^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 22%▲ up 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 6% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

94^th of 126Elementary Schools in the Palm Beach

33^rd of 70Palm Beach 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	27.3	1738 of 2240	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.9	2107 of 2258	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.4	2147 of 2256	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	2054 of 2240	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.7	1979 of 2219	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.8	2105 of 2247	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	21.5	1801 of 2182	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.8	1981 of 2118	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	14.3	1928 of 2112	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	10.0	1969 of 2087	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	10.3	1965 of 2064	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	18.4	1763 of 2029	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	11.6	1847 of 1984	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.2	1930 of 1985	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	16.7	1687 of 1919	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	28.0	1434 of 1847	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	13.8	1627 of 1789	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	11.0	1657 of 1786	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	5.2	1636 of 1688	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math56%-9 vs state

English Language Arts45%-15 vs state

Science38%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary

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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1501 Avenue U	Riviera Beach	33404	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 882-7600	529	34	15.5	75.8%	27 (5.1%)	459 (86.8%)	33 (6.2%)	5 (0.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	27.3	1738^th of 2240 public elementary schools	22.4%		11.9	2107^th of 2258 public elementary schools	6.7%	369	53.0	46.0	34.0	66.0	54.0	42.0	38.0	$16,076	$1,329	$14,748
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1160 Avenue N	Riviera Beach	33404	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 494-1400	397	29	13.9	78.3%	40 (10.1%)	288 (72.5%)	51 (12.8%)	3 (0.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)	13.2	2077^th of 2240 public elementary schools	7.3%		23.5	1810^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.8%	267	40.0	40.0	34.0	41.0	47.0	42.0	41.0	$18,556	$1,382	$17,174
Teen Parent Program - Pk	Public	PK-K	1160 Avenue N	Riviera Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	No	(561) 494-1592	25	0			4 (16.0%)	18 (72.0%)	3 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Washington Elementary Magnet School	Public	PK, KG-5	1709 W 30th St	Riviera Beach	33404	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 494-1200	241	18	13.3	81.3%	5 (2.1%)	203 (84.2%)	17 (7.1%)	9 (3.7%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.7%)	29.7	1673^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	25.3%		23.5	1808^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.9%	135	56.0	51.0	40.0	51.0	42.0	40.0	70.0	$22,860	$1,117	$21,743
West Riviera Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1057 W 6th St	Riviera Beach	33404	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 494-1900	524	31	17.1	77.9%	13 (2.5%)	346 (66.0%)	110 (21.0%)	6 (1.1%)	44 (8.4%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	16.8	2002^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	10.6%		12.1	2103^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	6.9%	101	50.0	23.0	29.0	54.0	54.0	42.0	27.0	$13,518	$1,559	$11,957
Lake Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	410 3rd St	Lake Park	33403	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 494-1300	389	27	14.4	72.2%	16 (4.1%)	293 (75.3%)	71 (18.3%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	36.3	1494^th of 2240 public elementary schools	33.3%		35	1497^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.7%	3	34.0	55.0	45.0	49.0	77.0	73.0	35.0	$17,945	$1,223	$16,721
Grove Park Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	8330 N Military Trl	West Palm Beach	33410	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 904-7700	656	41	16.0	74.8%	64 (9.8%)	399 (60.8%)	170 (25.9%)	12 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.4%)	19.7	1932^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	13.8%		20.1	1903^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	15.7%	29	35.0	46.0	48.0	35.0	52.0	60.0	38.0	$15,238	$1,409	$13,828
Northmore Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4111 N Terrace Dr	West Palm Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	No	No	Yes	(561) 494-1700	710	38	18.6	61.7%	28 (3.9%)	228 (32.1%)	444 (62.5%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.8%)	19.1	1954^th of 2240 public elementary schools	12.8%		17.2	1985^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.1%	31	31.0	33.0	47.0	50.0	47.0	63.0	37.0	$13,497	$1,259	$12,238
Gardens School Of Technology Arts Inc	Public, Charter	K-8	9153 Roan Ln	Palm Beach Gardens	33403	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes	(561) 290-7661	303	11	28.8	16.5%	65 (21.5%)	136 (44.9%)	83 (27.4%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.3%)								(n/a)								$16,204	$465	$15,740
Northboro Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	400 40th St	West Palm Beach	33407	Palm Beach County	Palm Beach	No	Yes	No	Yes	(561) 494-1600	728	50	14.7	73.5%	33 (4.5%)	316 (43.4%)	366 (50.3%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (1.0%)	61.1	848^th of 2240 public elementary schools	62.1%		62.9	803^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	64.4%	45	48.0	60.0	63.0	76.0	61.0	82.0	72.0	$16,243	$790	$15,453

Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary

What district is Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary in?

Palm Beach

What is the racial makeup of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary?

Students at Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary are 87% African American, 6% Hispanic, 5% White.

How many students attend Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 529 students attended Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : William T. Dwyer High School

Is Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary a good school?

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary ranks in the bottom 22.4% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary!

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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.