John Snively Elementary

John Snively Elementary in Eloise, FL, is a small, Title I-eligible school serving 396 students in grades PK-5 within the Polk district, and it has recently shown a promising upward trend, climbing to the 43rd percentile statewide—its highest ranking in years—after historically ranking in the bottom 30th percentile.

One of the school's standout strengths is its exceptional early literacy gains: in 3rd grade English Language Arts, 65% of students are proficient, which is above both the district (53%) and state (60%) averages, and significantly higher than nearby schools like Elbert Elementary (40%) and Inwood Elementary (29%). This makes John Snively a relative "bright spot" in a cluster of low-performing schools, outperforming neighbors such as Eagle Lake Elementary (3rd percentile) and Lake Shipp Elementary (16th percentile) by a wide margin. The school also spends more per student ($12,458) than many peers, which may be fueling its recent academic improvements.

However, John Snively faces a significant challenge with chronic absenteeism: 40.2% of students are chronically absent, far higher than the state average (31.4%) and much worse than nearby Pinewood Elementary (32.9%) or high-performing Frank E. Brigham Academy (13.5%). This absenteeism likely contributes to a "5th grade cliff," where proficiency in both math and ELA drops significantly from 3rd to 5th grade. While the school excels in early grades, it struggles to maintain momentum in upper grades, though 5th grade science remains a relative strength (50% proficient, on par with the district average). For parents, John Snively offers strong early literacy gains and a clear upward trajectory, but addressing attendance is key to sustaining progress.