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Ponce De Leon Elementary School

Q: Is Ponce De Leon Elementary School a good school?

Ponce De Leon Elementary School ranks 713 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

713^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Ponce De Leon Elementary School in Clearwater, FL, is a PK-5 public school serving 546 students within the Pinellas County School District, and it has staged one of the most dramatic academic turnarounds in the area, rising from a 1-star school to a 3-star school in just three years.

This school stands out for its remarkable improvement story. After years of low performance, Ponce De Leon has surged from the 23rd percentile to the 68th percentile, a 45-point jump that is unmatched by any nearby school. For comparison, Skycrest Elementary has fluctuated between the 50th and 69th percentile, while Belleair Elementary, the closest traditional public school with a similar poverty rate, has actually declined to the 20th percentile. This suggests Ponce De Leon’s success is due to specific school-level interventions, not just neighborhood demographics. The school invests heavily in its students, spending $16,438 per pupil—the highest among nearby schools—and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 13:1. This resource-intensive approach appears to be paying off, especially in math and science, where 5th graders significantly outperform both the district and state averages (79% proficient in math vs. 69% district, and 72% proficient in science vs. 70% district).

However, the turnaround is not without challenges. While math is a clear strength, English Language Arts (ELA) remains a work in progress, with all grade levels scoring below the district average. Additionally, chronic absenteeism is a persistent concern at 34.5%, which is higher than the district average and much higher than schools like Plumb Elementary (19.6%) and Discovery Academy of Science (21.0%). The school has proven it can improve dramatically, but the next step is to stabilize these gains, close the ELA gap, and tackle attendance issues to ensure the turnaround is permanent. For parents, Ponce De Leon offers a compelling story of a school that is defying the odds and making real progress, but it’s important to be aware of the areas still needing attention.

546

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,438

Per pupil spending ?

71.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1301 Ponce De Leon Blvd
Clearwater, FL 33756

(727) 588-3573

District: Pinellas

Students who attend Ponce De Leon Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Largo Middle School
High:	Largo High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

38.3%

African American:

28.6%

White:

20.9%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 19th percentile in 2016 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (68% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 49 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Florida median (68th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg69%

Florida avg62%

713^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 49 pts since 2016

From bottom 19% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd of 88Elementary Schools in the Pinellas

15^th of 70Pinellas 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	66.6	713 of 2240	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	71.4	595 of 2258	73.6%	★★★★☆
2024	63.3	789 of 2256	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	25.8	1728 of 2240	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.9	1446 of 2219	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.5	1430 of 2247	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	17.1	1910 of 2182	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.2	2016 of 2118	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	20.9	1752 of 2112	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	21.9	1694 of 2087	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	20.1	1750 of 2064	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	17.0	1796 of 2029	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	19.2	1682 of 1984	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.2	1516 of 1985	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	41.5	1202 of 1919	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	42.7	1137 of 1847	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.3	1144 of 1789	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	38.6	1164 of 1786	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	40.6	1035 of 1688	38.7%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science72%+12 vs state

Math71%+7 vs state

English Language Arts64%+4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ponce De Leon 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 Biology 1 (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 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 Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ponce De Leon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1301 Ponce De Leon Blvd	Clearwater	33756	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 588-3573	546	42	13.0	71.4%	114 (20.9%)	156 (28.6%)	209 (38.3%)	9 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (10.3%)	66.6	713^th of 2240 public elementary schools	68.2%		71.4	595^th of 2258 public elementary schools	73.6%	118	63.0	64.0	65.0				71.0	63.0	79.0				72.0						$16,438	$1,714	$14,724
Pinellas Academy Of Math And Science	Public, Charter	K-8	1775 S Highland Ave	Largo	33756	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 330-9449	817	53	15.4	46.1%	442 (54.1%)	85 (10.4%)	218 (26.7%)	14 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	56 (6.9%)	49.1	1159^th of 2240 public elementary schools	48.3%		48.7	1142^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	49.4%	17	69.0	56.0	59.0	56.0	59.0	64.0	81.0	62.0	59.0	39.0	64.0	55.0	59.0	53.0		88.0		73.0	$9,612	$424	$9,189
Belleair Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1156 Lakeview Rd	Clearwater	33756	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 469-5983	455	35	13.0	74.5%	74 (16.3%)	131 (28.8%)	222 (48.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.3%)	25	1791^st of 2240 public elementary schools	20.0%		39.7	1371^st of 2258 public elementary schools	39.3%	420	48.0	50.0	41.0				44.0	56.0	55.0				41.0						$15,450	$1,143	$14,307
Mildred Helms Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	561 Clearwater Largo Rd S	Largo	33770	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 588-3569	515	36	14.3	61.6%	227 (44.1%)	97 (18.8%)	131 (25.4%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	51 (9.9%)	63.3	799^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.3%		68.8	670^th of 2258 public elementary schools	70.3%	129	61.0	69.0	58.0				70.0	74.0	61.0				73.0						$13,108	$727	$12,381
Plumb Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1920 Lakeview Rd	Clearwater	33764	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 469-5976	704	50	14.0	49.3%	360 (51.1%)	51 (7.2%)	203 (28.8%)	29 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	59 (8.4%)	70.8	615^th of 2240 public elementary schools	72.5%		75.5	505^th of 2258 public elementary schools	77.6%	110	66.0	62.0	60.0				78.0	82.0	79.0				68.0						$13,891	$1,226	$12,664
Belcher Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2215 Lancaster Drive	Clearwater	33764	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	No	(727) 538-7437	467	35	13.3	58.5%	225 (48.2%)	63 (13.5%)	120 (25.7%)	11 (2.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (10.1%)	63.8	790^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.7%		61.5	839^th of 2258 public elementary schools	62.8%	49	61.0	67.0	73.0				58.0	75.0	66.0				68.0						$15,584	$1,161	$14,423
Skycrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	10 N Corona Ave	Clearwater	33765	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 469-5987	521	36	14.4	66.8%	102 (19.6%)	54 (10.4%)	330 (63.3%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	24 (4.6%)	50.4	1131^st of 2240 public elementary schools	49.5%		67.7	700^th of 2258 public elementary schools	69.0%	431	47.0	64.0	62.0				53.0	70.0	65.0				58.0						$15,399	$1,394	$14,004
Ridgecrest Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1901 119th St	Largo	33778	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	Yes	No	No	(727) 588-3580	438	29	15.1	58.0%	144 (32.9%)	152 (34.7%)	59 (13.5%)	28 (6.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	52 (11.9%)	58.8	909^th of 2240 public elementary schools	59.4%		64.8	761^st of 2258 public elementary schools	66.3%	148	63.0	65.0	63.0				61.0	74.0	58.0				64.0						$13,545	$696	$12,850
Fuguitt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	13010 101st St	Largo	33773	Pinellas County	Pinellas	No	No	No	Yes	(727) 588-3576	464	36	12.8	65.7%	203 (43.8%)	114 (24.6%)	98 (21.1%)	13 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	32 (6.9%)	38.4	1444^th of 2240 public elementary schools	35.5%		40.3	1346^th of 2258 public elementary schools	40.4%	98	61.0	62.0	58.0				57.0	49.0	42.0				52.0						$15,084	$1,159	$13,926
Discovery Academy Of Science	Public, Charter	K-8	2433 Nursery Rd	Clearwater	33764	Pinellas County	Pinellas	Yes	No	No	No	(727) 369-6361	722	42	17.1	28.1%	483 (66.9%)	25 (3.5%)	136 (18.8%)	31 (4.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	44 (6.1%)	89.3	148^th of 2240 public elementary schools	93.4%		89.9	169^th of 2258 public elementary schools	92.5%	21	81.0	85.0	80.0	90.0	91.0	84.0	84.0	93.0	80.0	95.0	95.0	97.0	70.0	68.0	94.0	100.0	100.0	90.0	$10,236	$45	$10,191

Frequently Asked Questions about Ponce De Leon Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Ponce De Leon Elementary School?

Students at Ponce De Leon Elementary School are 38% Hispanic, 29% African American, 21% White, 10% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Is Ponce De Leon Elementary School a good school?

Ponce De Leon Elementary School ranks 713^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Ponce De Leon Elementary School in?

Pinellas

What schools do graduates of Ponce De Leon Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ponce De Leon Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Largo Middle School
High : Largo High School

How many students attend Ponce De Leon Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 546 students attended Ponce De Leon Elementary School.

Rate Ponce De Leon 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.