Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

W. H. Rhodes Elementary School

Q: Is W. H. Rhodes Elementary School a good school?

W. H. Rhodes Elementary School ranks 1630 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1630^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

W. H. Rhodes Elementary School in Milton, FL, serves 789 students in grades PK-5 within the Santa Rosa School District, a district ranked in the top third of Florida, yet the school itself faces significant challenges tied to high poverty and absenteeism.

One of the most critical issues at W. H. Rhodes is its extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 32.5% in 2023-2024, which is 1.6 times higher than the district average and over four times higher than the nearby high-performing Wallace Lake K-8 (7.9%). This absenteeism is closely linked to the school's economic disadvantage, with 83.4% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—the highest rate among all comparable schools in the area. For context, Berryhill Elementary has a 52.99% poverty rate, and even Bagdad Elementary (69.66%) and East Milton Elementary (72.5%) have lower rates. Despite spending $12,224 per student—significantly more than Wallace Lake K-8 ($8,363) and Berryhill ($10,239)—the school has seen a steady decline in state rankings, dropping to its lowest-ever 27th percentile (1-star rating) in 2025-2026.

Academically, the school struggles most in 5th grade, where only 38% of students were proficient in Science in 2025-2026, a full 22 points below the district and state averages. This "5th grade slump" is severe: 3rd graders scored 52% in ELA and 57% in Math, but by 5th grade, those scores fell to 45% and 48%, respectively. However, there is a bright spot in 4th grade Math, where 64% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, just 6 points below the district and 1 point below the state. This success suggests that effective instruction is possible and could be replicated in other subjects and grades, but any meaningful improvement will likely require directly addressing the root causes of absenteeism tied to the community's economic conditions.

789

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,224

Per pupil spending ?

83.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5563 Byrom St
Milton, FL 32570

(850) 983-5670

District: Santa Rosa

Students who attend W. H. Rhodes Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Martin Luther King Middle School
High:	Milton High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.3%

African American:

15.8%

Two or more races:

10.4%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare W. H. Rhodes Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 45th percentile in 2016 → 27th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (51% vs 62% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 22 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg66%

Florida avg62%

1,630^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 45% (2016) to bottom 27% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Santa Rosa

22^nd of 70Santa Rosa 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	31.6	1630 of 2240	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	37.1	1444 of 2258	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.9	1180 of 2256	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.1	1136 of 2240	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.9	1349 of 2219	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.1	1124 of 2247	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.3	1145 of 2182	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.5	1068 of 2118	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	53.2	990 of 2112	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	45.1	1142 of 2087	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	46.0	1114 of 2064	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	50.3	992 of 2029	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	40.0	1220 of 1984	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	62.3	797 of 1985	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.3	983 of 1919	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	64.5	680 of 1847	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.6	622 of 1789	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	70.8	519 of 1786	70.9%	★★★★☆
2006	67.4	560 of 1688	66.8%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math56%-8 vs state

English Language Arts51%-9 vs state

Science38%-22 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

Rate W. H. Rhodes Elementary School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, December 8, 2011

In second grade my daughter had an awful teacher, but, her third grade teacher more than made up for the total disappointment the year prior. Her third grade teacher seemed like she was born to teach and took a special interest in my daughter. At the beginning of the year my daughter was very self-conscious but little by little this teacher helped her build confidence and now my daughter won't stop raising her hand to answer questions! Close Quote

Schools Near W. H. Rhodes Elementary School

Load more schools when map is moved

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 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
W. H. Rhodes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5563 Byrom St	Milton	32570	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5670	789	52	15.1	83.4%	523 (66.3%)	125 (15.8%)	42 (5.3%)	4 (0.5%)	8 (1.0%)	5 (0.6%)	82 (10.4%)	31.6	1630^th of 2240 public elementary schools	27.2%		37.1	1444^th of 2258 public elementary schools	36.0%	186	52.0	58.0	45.0				57.0	64.0	48.0				38.0					$12,224	$933	$11,291
East Milton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5156 Ward Basin Rd	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5620	771	51	15.1	72.5%	571 (74.1%)	39 (5.1%)	75 (9.7%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	79 (10.2%)	30.5	1654^th of 2240 public elementary schools	26.2%		33.1	1554^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.2%	100	54.0	43.0	51.0				61.0	55.0	50.0				44.0					$11,525	$964	$10,561
Bagdad Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4512 Forsyth St	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5680	501	33	15.1	69.7%	342 (68.3%)	57 (11.4%)	30 (6.0%)	8 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (12.6%)	26	1762^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	21.3%		30.6	1621^st of 2258 public elementary schools	28.2%	141	54.0	51.0	53.0				62.0	40.0	38.0				36.0					$12,659	$1,501	$11,158
Berryhill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4900 Berryhill Rd	Milton	32570	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5690	802	52	15.4	53.0%	615 (76.7%)	54 (6.7%)	51 (6.4%)	9 (1.1%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	65 (8.1%)	57.1	954^th of 2240 public elementary schools	57.4%		61	858^th of 2258 public elementary schools	62.0%	96	69.0	59.0	62.0				82.0	63.0	62.0				53.0					$10,239	$660	$9,580
Pea Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4775 School Ln	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 995-3680	846	57	14.8	57.8%	550 (65.0%)	58 (6.9%)	95 (11.2%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.6%)	131 (15.5%)	41.6	1357^th of 2240 public elementary schools	39.4%		48.4	1149^th of 2258 public elementary schools	49.1%	208	65.0	52.0	53.0				62.0	59.0	56.0				49.0					$9,920	$737	$9,183
Bennett C Russell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3740 Excalibur Way	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-7000	899	60	14.9	60.3%	647 (72.0%)	57 (6.3%)	87 (9.7%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	99 (11.0%)	38.6	1441^st of 2240 public elementary schools	35.7%		39.1	1384^th of 2258 public elementary schools	38.7%	57	60.0	62.0	44.0				58.0	72.0	47.0				38.0					$10,545	$690	$9,854
S. S. Dixon Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	4560 Pace Patriot Blvd	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 995-3660	611	41	14.9	51.9%	456 (74.6%)	26 (4.3%)	60 (9.8%)	10 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	57 (9.3%)								(n/a)																		$10,817	$742	$10,075
S. S. Dixon Intermediate School	Public	3-5	5540 Education Dr	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 995-3650	676	40	16.9	47.3%	514 (76.0%)	24 (3.6%)	64 (9.5%)	15 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	57 (8.4%)	64.4	778^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.3%		70.2	635^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.9%	143	66.0	70.0	63.0				77.0	74.0	66.0				54.0					$9,626	$560	$9,066
Wallace Lake K-8	Public	PK, KG-8	3354 Wallace Lake Rd	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 783-9653	1,061	61	17.3	29.7%	884 (83.3%)	21 (2.0%)	67 (6.3%)	17 (1.6%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	67 (6.3%)	88.3	176^th of 2240 public elementary schools	92.1%		86.2	263^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	88.4%	87	80.0	80.0	77.0	86.0	81.0	78.0	86.0	85.0	89.0	89.0	63.0	91.0	73.0	78.0	99.0	100.0	85.0	$8,363	$247	$8,117
Scenic Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	3801 Cherry Laurel Dr	Pensacola	32504	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 494-5635	773	45	17.3	42.0%	336 (43.5%)	151 (19.5%)	199 (25.7%)	30 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (7.0%)	59.4	894^th of 2240 public elementary schools	60.1%		45.5	1216^th of 2258 public elementary schools	46.1%	322	64.0	58.0	62.0				69.0	72.0	63.0				64.0					$9,973	$820	$9,152

Frequently Asked Questions about W. H. Rhodes Elementary School

Is W. H. Rhodes Elementary School a good school?

W. H. Rhodes Elementary School ranks 1630^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is W. H. Rhodes Elementary School in?

Santa Rosa

How many students attend W. H. Rhodes Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 789 students attended W. H. Rhodes Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of W. H. Rhodes Elementary School attend?

Students who attend W. H. Rhodes Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Martin Luther King Middle School
High : Milton High School

What is the racial makeup of W. H. Rhodes Elementary School?

Students at W. H. Rhodes Elementary School are 66% White, 16% African American, 10% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 1% American Indian.

Rate W. H. Rhodes Elementary School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

FLFlorida Elementary School Rankings

FLFlorida District Rankings

Schools in Milton, FL

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for W. H. Rhodes Elementary School!

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.