Rodney B. Cox Elementary School

Rodney B. Cox Elementary School in Dade City, FL, serves 399 students in grades PK-5 within the Pasco County School District, and has recently shown a dramatic academic turnaround after years of struggling.

This school faces significant challenges, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 75.44%—much higher than nearby schools like Academy At The Farm (14.45%)—and a chronic absenteeism rate of 37.6% that, while improving, remains above the state average. To address these issues, the district invests heavily here, spending $18,026 per student, nearly double what higher-performing schools like Innovation Preparatory Academy ($8,626) and Kirkland Ranch K-8 ($9,522) spend. This investment appears to be paying off: in the 2025-2026 school year, Rodney B. Cox jumped to the 21st percentile statewide—its best ranking in nine years—and now outperforms West Zephyrhills Elementary and Woodland Elementary in several subjects, despite those schools having lower poverty rates.

A standout success is 4th-grade math, where proficiency soared from 34% to 70%—now exceeding both the district (62%) and state (65%) averages. This suggests a highly effective intervention that could be replicated in other grades. The data also shows a clear link between declining absenteeism and rising test scores, indicating that getting students to class regularly is the most critical factor for continued improvement. While the school still has work ahead, its recent progress demonstrates that targeted resources and consistent attendance can drive meaningful change, even in a community facing deep socioeconomic challenges.