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The Children's Reading Center

Q: Is The Children's Reading Center a good school?

The Children's Reading Center ranks 423 rd of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-6

423^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 81% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

The Children's Reading Center in Palatka, FL, is a small K-6 elementary school serving 275 students in the Putnam County School District, and it stands out as a remarkable academic success story in an area where most other elementary schools are struggling.

This school is a true "pocket of excellence." While other elementary schools in the Putnam district rank in the 4th to 26th percentile statewide, The Children's Reading Center ranks in the 81st percentile. The difference in academic performance is dramatic. For example, in 6th-grade math, the school achieved an astounding 97% proficiency rate, far surpassing nearby schools like McRae Elementary School (89%) in the Clay district. In 5th-grade science, 70% of students were proficient, compared to just 45% across the Putnam district. The school also has a chronic absenteeism rate of 26.7%, which is less than half the rate of every other elementary school in the district (which range from 51.9% to 60.9%), indicating a strong culture of student engagement and family support.

What makes this success even more impressive is that the school achieves it with fewer resources. It spends $10,021 per student, which is less than every other Putnam elementary school (which spend between $10,253 and $14,150). The school has a history of high performance, consistently earning 4 or 5 stars from SchoolDigger over the past decade, though its ranking has slipped slightly from a peak of the 96th percentile in 2022-2023. This is a school that proves strong internal practices—effective leadership, teaching, and culture—can overcome district-wide challenges and deliver exceptional results for students.

275

Students ?

23.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,021

Per pupil spending ?

37.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7901 Saint Johns Ave
Palatka, FL 32177

(386) 326-2762

District: Putnam

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.0%

African American:

23.3%

Hispanic:

8.4%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare The Children's Reading Center to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 96th percentile in 2023 → 81st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (76% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of Florida elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Putnam

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 96th-percentile peak (2023) to 81st (2026)

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school76%

District avg47%

Florida avg62%

423^rd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 19%▲ up 13 pts since 2016

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

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 9Elementary Schools in the Putnam

62^nd of 70Putnam 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	78.2	423 of 2240	81.1%	★★★★☆
2025	90.0	166 of 2258	92.6%	★★★★★
2024	84.5	307 of 2256	86.4%	★★★★☆
2023	93.1	93 of 2240	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	90.9	157 of 2219	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	88.7	223 of 2247	90.1%	★★★★★
2019	81.9	355 of 2182	83.7%	★★★★☆
2018	83.9	319 of 2118	84.9%	★★★★☆
2017	87.3	217 of 2112	89.7%	★★★★☆
2016	67.0	674 of 2087	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	71.8	531 of 2064	74.3%	★★★★☆
2013	72.0	521 of 2029	74.3%	★★★★☆
2012	54.2	905 of 1984	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	55.3	943 of 1985	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	75.0	438 of 1919	77.2%	★★★★☆
2009	38.3	1230 of 1847	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	22.5	1471 of 1789	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	35.8	1210 of 1786	32.3%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math81%+18 vs state

English Language Arts72%+11 vs state

Science70%+10 vs state

★

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Schools Near The Children's Reading Center

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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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
The Children's Reading Center	Public, Charter	K-6	7901 Saint Johns Ave	Palatka	32177	Putnam County	Putnam	Yes	No	No	Yes	(386) 326-2762	275	0	23.6	37.8%	165 (60.0%)	64 (23.3%)	23 (8.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.3%)	78.2	423^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	81.1%		90	166^th of 2258 public elementary schools	92.6%	257	65.0	68.0	72.0	87.0	78.0	75.0	79.0	97.0	70.0	$10,021	$756	$9,265
Kelley Smith Elementary School	Public	K-6	141 Kelley Smith School Rd	Palatka	32177	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 329-0568	776	40	19.5	47.7%	450 (58.0%)	241 (31.1%)	46 (5.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (4.5%)	29.6	1675^th of 2240 public elementary schools	25.2%		34.6	1513^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.0%	162	46.0	47.0	33.0	64.0	53.0	57.0	50.0	78.0	27.0	$10,475	$1,564	$8,912
William D. Moseley Elementary School	Public	K-6	1100 Husson Ave	Palatka	32177	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 329-0562	558	30	18.6	65.2%	141 (25.3%)	306 (54.8%)	74 (13.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.5%)	9.6	2150^th of 2240 public elementary schools	4.0%		14.4	2051^st of 2258 public elementary schools	9.2%	99	26.0	39.0	51.0	32.0	29.0	36.0	33.0	44.0	30.0	$10,597	$1,536	$9,062
James A. Long Elementary School	Public	K-6	1400 Old Jacksonville Rd	Palatka	32177	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 329-0575	565	30	18.8	56.5%	294 (52.0%)	207 (36.6%)	35 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.1%)	30.5	1655^th of 2240 public elementary schools	26.1%		33.5	1539^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.8%	116	34.0	58.0	56.0	75.0	38.0	46.0	25.0	54.0	58.0	$10,661	$1,581	$9,080
Browning-Pearce Elementary School	Public	K-6	100 Bear Blvd	San Mateo	32187	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 329-0557	679	38	17.9	59.9%	406 (59.8%)	106 (15.6%)	126 (18.6%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.6%)	17.9	1977^th of 2240 public elementary schools	11.7%		22.3	1836^th of 2258 public elementary schools	18.7%	141	45.0	30.0	49.0	69.0	38.0	28.0	37.0	54.0	37.0	$11,119	$1,620	$9,498
Robert H. Jenkins Junior Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	251 S State Road 315	Interlachen	32148	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 684-2130	844	45	18.7	59.0%	630 (74.6%)	45 (5.3%)	129 (15.3%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (4.0%)	27.7	1722^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	23.1%		23.5	1807^th of 2258 public elementary schools	20.0%	85	44.0	41.0	48.0	56.0	50.0	37.0	50.0	65.0	57.0	$11,292	$1,725	$9,567
South Woods Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4750 Sr 206 W	Elkton	32033	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	Yes	(904) 547-8610	700	49	14.2	71.0%	472 (67.4%)	101 (14.4%)	76 (10.9%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (6.7%)	38.8	1435^th of 2240 public elementary schools	35.9%		41.4	1311^th of 2258 public elementary schools	41.9%	124	65.0	61.0	55.0		49.0	55.0	49.0		51.0	$13,076	$1,839	$11,237
McRae Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6770 County Road 315 C	Keystone Heights	32656	Clay County	Clay	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 336-6125	544	46	11.8	69.5%	475 (87.3%)	9 (1.7%)	36 (6.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.0%)	63.3	804^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.1%		72.9	558^th of 2258 public elementary schools	75.3%	246	57.0	61.0	60.0	62.0	75.0	82.0	61.0	89.0	68.0	$12,574	$1,614	$10,960
Middleton-Burney Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1020 Huntington Rd	Crescent City	32112	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(386) 698-1238	1,056	49	21.6	60.1%	290 (27.5%)	113 (10.7%)	618 (58.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (3.0%)	15.1	2038^th of 2240 public elementary schools	9.0%		17.8	1974^th of 2258 public elementary schools	12.6%	64	31.0	33.0	43.0	59.0	29.0	36.0	42.0	48.0	42.0	$10,253	$1,540	$8,713
Ochwilla Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	299 N State Road 21	Hawthorne	32640	Putnam County	Putnam	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 481-0204	388	22	17.6	53.6%	216 (55.7%)	59 (15.2%)	66 (17.0%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (11.1%)	19.2	1950^th of 2240 public elementary schools	12.9%		18.7	1958^th of 2258 public elementary schools	13.3%	8	60.0	33.0	39.0	50.0	42.0	31.0	28.0	59.0	41.0	$14,150	$2,958	$11,192

Frequently Asked Questions about The Children's Reading Center

What district is The Children's Reading Center in?

Putnam

How many students attend The Children's Reading Center?

In the 2024-25 school year, 275 students attended The Children's Reading Center.

What is the racial makeup of The Children's Reading Center?

Students at The Children's Reading Center are 60% White, 23% African American, 8% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

Is The Children's Reading Center a good school?

The Children's Reading Center ranks 423^rd of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate The Children's Reading Center!

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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.