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Lacoochee Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1968^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Lacoochee Elementary School is a small, rural PK-5 school in Dade City, FL, serving 296 students within the Pasco County School District, where over 76% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a high level of economic disadvantage.

The most significant challenge at Lacoochee is extreme chronic absenteeism, which reached 38.7% in the 2023-2024 school year—more than double the rate at nearby Centennial Elementary School (25.6%) and nearly triple that of high-performing Academy At The Farm (14.9%). This persistent issue, ranging from 35.9% to 43.9% over the last five years, is a primary driver of the school's academic struggles. Test scores are almost universally below district and state averages; for example, 3rd-grade English Language Arts proficiency was 49% in 2025-2026, compared to the district's 61% and state's 60%. In contrast, schools like Kirkland Ranch K-8 and Academy At The Farm consistently score 15-30 percentage points higher in the same subjects. Notably, Lacoochee spends $13,724 per student—higher than many higher-performing peers—yet sees lower academic results, likely due to the overwhelming external challenges of poverty and absenteeism.

Despite these hurdles, there are glimmers of hope. Lacoochee shows a notable strength in 4th-grade Math, with 55% proficiency in 2025-2026, close to the district average of 62%. Recent test scores also show significant jumps from the previous year, such as 3rd-grade ELA rising from 30% to 49% and 5th-grade Science from 28% to 40%, suggesting that recent interventions may be starting to take effect. However, the school remains part of a stark divide within the Pasco district, where low-performing, high-poverty schools like Lacoochee, Pasco Elementary School, and Rodney B. Cox Elementary School coexist with top-performing, low-poverty schools just 10-13 miles away. Any meaningful improvement strategy must prioritize tackling the root causes of chronic absenteeism to break the link between attendance and academic performance.

296

Students ?

19.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,724

Per pupil spending ?

76.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

38815 Cummer Rd
Dade City, FL 33523

(352) 524-5600

District: Pasco

Students who attend Lacoochee Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Pasco Middle School
High:	Pasco High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

40.9%

White:

29.7%

African American:

21.6%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 9th percentile in 2016 → 12th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (44% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (39% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg59%

Florida avg62%

1,968^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 9% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

47^th of 56Elementary Schools in the Pasco

37^th of 70Pasco 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	18.7	1968 of 2240	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.1	1783 of 2258	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.5	1503 of 2256	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.1	1800 of 2240	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.0	1612 of 2219	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	30.3	1561 of 2247	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.0	1662 of 2182	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	37.2	1367 of 2118	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	29.5	1517 of 2112	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	13.3	1902 of 2087	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	17.9	1803 of 2064	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	15.8	1824 of 2029	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	7.4	1913 of 1984	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	9.3	1882 of 1985	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	20.8	1612 of 1919	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.9	1381 of 1847	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	35.2	1242 of 1789	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	46.4	1010 of 1786	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	20.0	1407 of 1688	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math46%-19 vs state

English Language Arts44%-16 vs state

Science40%-20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Lacoochee Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th 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
Lacoochee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	38815 Cummer Rd	Dade City	33523	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 524-5600	296	15	19.7	76.7%	88 (29.7%)	64 (21.6%)	121 (40.9%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (6.1%)	18.7	1968^th of 2240 public elementary schools	12.1%		25.1	1783^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	21.0%	185	49.0	34.0	47.0					43.0	55.0	42.0				40.0					$13,724	$1,529	$12,194
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	37615 Martin Luther King Blvd	Dade City	33523	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 524-5100	399	25	15.9	75.4%	53 (13.3%)	86 (21.6%)	243 (60.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.8%)	25.6	1775^th of 2240 public elementary schools	20.8%		18.5	1960^th of 2258 public elementary schools	13.2%	185	32.0	42.0	47.0					47.0	70.0	50.0				51.0					$18,026	$4,143	$13,883
Pasco Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	37350 Florida Ave	Dade City	33525	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 524-5200	639	40	16.0	64.3%	173 (27.1%)	94 (14.7%)	334 (52.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.8%)	20.7	1908^th of 2240 public elementary schools	14.8%		16.6	1994^th of 2258 public elementary schools	11.7%	86	44.0	50.0	42.0					58.0	41.0	47.0				37.0					$12,562	$1,792	$10,770
Eastside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	27151 Roper Rd	Brooksville	34602	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 797-7045	754	50	15.0	70.7%	433 (57.4%)	92 (12.2%)	176 (23.3%)	6 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	44 (5.8%)	34.6	1538^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.3%		33.6	1538^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.9%		54.0	59.0	50.0					72.0	52.0	36.0				46.0					$11,429	$1,456	$9,973
San Antonio Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	32416 Darby Rd	Dade City	33525	Pasco County	Pasco	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 524-5300	706	40	17.4	34.8%	385 (54.5%)	45 (6.4%)	217 (30.7%)	8 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (7.2%)	33.3	1576^th of 2240 public elementary schools	29.6%		28.9	1679^th of 2258 public elementary schools	25.6%	103	57.0	43.0	53.0					56.0	54.0	50.0				56.0					$9,821	$288	$9,533
Centennial Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	38501 Centennial Rd	Dade City	33525	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 524-5000	684	45	15.3	51.8%	362 (52.9%)	54 (7.9%)	219 (32.0%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (5.8%)	38.8	1438^th of 2240 public elementary schools	35.8%		35.5	1485^th of 2258 public elementary schools	34.2%	47	55.0	61.0	52.0					60.0	60.0	44.0				53.0					$12,063	$1,746	$10,317
Academy At The Farm	Public, Charter	K-8	9500 Alex Lange Way	Dade City	33525	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 588-9737	761	49	15.4	14.5%	591 (77.7%)	8 (1.1%)	110 (14.5%)	19 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.3%)	77.4	447^th of 2240 public elementary schools	80.0%		82.1	363^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	83.9%	84	78.0	65.0	89.0	64.0	74.0	68.0	52.0	85.0	81.0	88.0	72.0	77.0	91.0	70.0	72.0	79.0	93.0	89.0	$13,045	$989	$12,056
Webster Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	349 S Market Blvd	Webster	33597	Sumter County	Sumter	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 793-2828	690	42	16.4	46.4%	381 (55.2%)	62 (9.0%)	209 (30.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.1%)	45.7	1252^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	44.1%		48.3	1153^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	48.9%	99	54.0	60.0	59.0					69.0	61.0	56.0				50.0					$14,335	$1,884	$12,451
Kirkland Ranch K-8	Public	PK, KG-8	33137 Innovation Drive	Wesley Chapel	33545	Pasco County	Pasco	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(813) 346-2700	1,145	71	16.1	21.0%	516 (45.1%)	90 (7.9%)	326 (28.5%)	104 (9.1%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	104 (9.1%)	76.1	480^th of 2240 public elementary schools	78.6%					(n/a)	80.0	75.0	68.0	79.0	71.0	82.0		87.0	82.0	63.0	77.0	48.0	89.0	62.0	72.0	92.0	100.0	88.0	$9,522	$199	$9,323
Moton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7175 Emerson Rd	Brooksville	34601	Hernando County	Hernando	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 797-7065	671	39	17.2	67.8%	300 (44.7%)	140 (20.9%)	145 (21.6%)	4 (0.6%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	76 (11.3%)	28	1710^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.7%		27.6	1712^th of 2258 public elementary schools	24.2%	2	52.0	41.0	49.0					56.0	48.0	42.0				61.0					$11,802	$1,521	$10,279

Frequently Asked Questions about Lacoochee Elementary School

How many students attend Lacoochee Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 296 students attended Lacoochee Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Lacoochee Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Lacoochee Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pasco Middle School
High : Pasco High School

What is the racial makeup of Lacoochee Elementary School?

Students at Lacoochee Elementary School are 41% Hispanic, 30% White, 22% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

What district is Lacoochee Elementary School in?

Pasco

Is Lacoochee Elementary School a good school?

Lacoochee Elementary School ranks in the bottom 12.1% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Lacoochee Elementary School!

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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.