Summary:
The city of Bell, Florida, is served by two public schools within the highly-ranked Gilchrist County School District, which together educate approximately 1,352 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a small, close-knit community.
Bell High School is the standout institution, consistently earning a 4-star state rating and ranking in the 79th-80th percentile among Florida high schools. It achieves exceptional proficiency rates in specific subjects, such as 96% in Civics and 89% in Biology, far exceeding state averages. The high school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 18.3% and a graduation rate of 86.6%. In contrast, Bell Elementary School has seen its state ranking decline from 4 stars to 3 stars, with a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 27.0% and more volatile test scores. For example, 3rd-grade ELA proficiency jumped from 50% to 86% in one year, suggesting performance is heavily influenced by individual student cohorts rather than stable school-wide instruction. Both schools have similar student-teacher ratios (around 18:1) and per-student spending (approximately $12,000), but Bell Elementary has a slightly higher percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (51.37% vs. 45.26%).
A key takeaway is the stark contrast between the two schools: Bell High School provides a stable, high-performing academic environment, while Bell Elementary shows more inconsistency. The data suggests that students may experience a significant academic boost when they transition from Bell Elementary to Bell High School in 6th grade. Additionally, the rising absenteeism at the elementary level appears correlated with its declining performance, making it a critical area for parents to monitor. Overall, Bell offers a strong high school option within a top-tier district, but families with younger children may want to pay close attention to the elementary school's recent trends.
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