Best Public Schools in Elkton, FL

Elkton, Florida, is home to a single public school, South Woods Elementary School, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade with a total enrollment of 700 students. This school is part of the highly-rated St. Johns County School District, a top-tier district ranking in the 94th percentile statewide. However, South Woods Elementary presents a unique paradox: while its district is elite, the school itself performs at or below state averages in most subjects, with a state ranking in the 36th percentile. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 71% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and faces significant challenges in math proficiency and chronic absenteeism.

Key metrics reveal a school with notable strengths and critical weaknesses. In English Language Arts (ELA), South Woods shows relative strength, with 3rd and 4th-grade scores (65% and 61%) exceeding the state average of 60% in the 2025-2026 school year. However, math is a major concern, with proficiency rates across all grades (49% to 55%) falling well below both district and state averages. For example, 3rd-grade math proficiency is 49%, compared to 79% in the district and 66% statewide. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 34.1% is alarmingly high, surpassing both the district (20.1%) and state (31.4%) averages, and is a primary driver of academic struggles. The student-teacher ratio is 14.2:1, and per-student spending is $13,076.

Interesting findings highlight the school's volatility and potential for improvement. Year-over-year test scores are inconsistent, such as 5th-grade math dropping from 60% to 49% and 5th-grade ELA rising from 41% to 55%, suggesting a lack of stable instructional strategies. The school's underperformance within a high-performing district indicates that challenges are concentrated at this campus, heavily influenced by its high-poverty population. A glimmer of hope exists in early elementary ELA, which could serve as a foundation for growth. Ultimately, addressing chronic absenteeism appears to be the most critical lever for improving overall outcomes at South Woods Elementary, as over one-third of students missing significant school time directly impacts learning and achievement.