Best Elementary Schools in Gainesville, FL

Summary:

This analysis examines 21 elementary schools in Gainesville, Florida, all part of the Alachua school district, serving grades PK-5 in a city with a notable socioeconomic divide that strongly correlates with academic outcomes.

The top-performing schools in Gainesville are William S. Talbot Elementary School (84th percentile) and Hidden Oak Elementary School (76th-81st percentile), both with low chronic absenteeism (around 17%) and a relatively low percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (34-35%). In contrast, schools like Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School (1st percentile) and W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School (2nd-3rd percentile) face severe challenges, with chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 53% and free/reduced lunch rates above 86%. Notably, charter schools like Boulware Springs Charter (75th percentile) and Caring & Sharing Learning School (70th percentile) achieve high rankings despite serving populations with significant economic need (56-66% free/reduced lunch) and spending below the district average.

Key metrics reveal that per-student spending does not guarantee success—the highest-spending schools, Lake Forest Elementary School ($18,656) and Rawlings ($14,002), are among the lowest-performing. Chronic absenteeism is a critical warning sign, with struggling schools showing rates 3-4 times higher than top performers. The data also highlights a positive trend at The One Room School House Project, which jumped from the 36th to 64th percentile, and a dramatic decline at Joseph Williams Elementary School, dropping from 34th to 1st percentile. Overall, the strongest predictor of performance is socioeconomic status, with schools in northwest and southwest Gainesville consistently outperforming those in northeast and east-central areas.

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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Total
Carolyn Beatrice Parker Elementary	Public	K-5	1912 NW 5th Ave	Gainesville	32603	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6705	501	36	13.7	37.7%	165 (32.9%)	126 (25.1%)	163 (32.5%)	24 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.6%)	27.1	1741^st of 2240 public elementary schools	22.3%		27.6	1708^th of 2258 public elementary schools	24.4%	33	53.0	38.0	55.0	45.0	39.0	50.0	59.0
Stephen Foster Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	3800 NW 6th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 955-6706	403	29	13.9	59.1%	90 (22.3%)	187 (46.4%)	67 (16.6%)	24 (6.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (8.4%)	17.1	1995^th of 2240 public elementary schools	10.9%		18.7	1957^th of 2258 public elementary schools	13.3%	38	36.0	46.0	48.0	30.0	49.0	43.0	48.0
Lake Forest Elementary School	Public	K-5	4401 SE 4th Ave	Gainesville	32641	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6710	268	19	14.1	84.7%	22 (8.2%)	209 (78.0%)	23 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.1%)	2.1	2221^st of 2240 public elementary schools	0.8%		11.5	2112^th of 2258 public elementary schools	6.5%	109	24.0	26.0	20.0	31.0	23.0	23.0	27.0
Littlewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1262 NW 31st Drive	Gainesville	32605	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6712	714	50	14.2	45.5%	250 (35.0%)	222 (31.1%)	152 (21.3%)	33 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (8.0%)	53.8	1052^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	53.0%		65	756^th of 2258 public elementary schools	66.5%	296	60.0	63.0	63.0	63.0	67.0	61.0	57.0
W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School	Public	K-5	1250 NE 18th Ave	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6713	463	32	14.3	86.6%	24 (5.2%)	371 (80.1%)	34 (7.3%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.3%)	4.9	2200^th of 2240 public elementary schools	1.8%		7.5	2189^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.1%	11	40.0	33.0	35.0	26.0	28.0	27.0	17.0
Joseph Williams Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	1245 SE 7th Ave	Gainesville	32641	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 955-6719	398	27	14.7	82.2%	20 (5.0%)	328 (82.4%)	12 (3.0%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.0%)	3.8	2209^th of 2240 public elementary schools	1.4%		4.9	2220^th of 2258 public elementary schools	1.7%	11	13.0	25.0	35.0	10.0	16.0	32.0	38.0
C. W. Norton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2200 NW 45th Ave	Gainesville	32605	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6765	540	40	13.5	44.4%	234 (43.3%)	140 (25.9%)	99 (18.3%)	21 (3.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.3%)	43.3	1314^th of 2240 public elementary schools	41.3%		42.4	1290^th of 2258 public elementary schools	42.9%	24	63.0	55.0	59.0	56.0	53.0	47.0	68.0
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3999 SW 122nd St	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6717	672	49	13.8	66.7%	133 (19.8%)	301 (44.8%)	156 (23.2%)	18 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (9.4%)	16.8	2001^st of 2240 public elementary schools	10.7%		20.2	1900^th of 2258 public elementary schools	15.9%	101	44.0	49.0	45.0	43.0	41.0	46.0	35.0
Idylwild Elementary School	Public	K-5	4601 SW 20th Ter	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6709	627	40	15.6	69.2%	73 (11.6%)	342 (54.5%)	132 (21.1%)	26 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (8.5%)	9	2155^th of 2240 public elementary schools	3.8%		12.2	2100^th of 2258 public elementary schools	7.0%	55	44.0	37.0	44.0	38.0	33.0	19.0	24.0
Glen Springs Elementary School	Public	K-5	2826 NW 31st Ave	Gainesville	32605	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6708	429	29	14.7	38.2%	198 (46.2%)	111 (25.9%)	59 (13.8%)	18 (4.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.8%)	51.5	1101^st of 2240 public elementary schools	50.8%		56.3	966^th of 2258 public elementary schools	57.2%	135	76.0	61.0	65.0	58.0	56.0	46.0	64.0
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	3500 NE 15th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 955-6715	312	25	12.4	89.7%	13 (4.2%)	263 (84.3%)	22 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.5%)	0.7	2227^th of 2240 public elementary schools	0.6%		2.9	2235^th of 2258 public elementary schools	1.0%	8	18.0	24.0	22.0	11.0	20.0	11.0	14.0
Kimball Wiles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4601 SW 75th St	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6955	741	53	14.1	45.2%	269 (36.3%)	172 (23.2%)	141 (19.0%)	97 (13.1%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (7.6%)	59	906^th of 2240 public elementary schools	59.6%		60.1	883^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	60.9%	23	73.0	63.0	70.0	71.0	55.0	53.0	65.0
William S. Talbot Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5701 NW 43rd St	Gainesville	32653	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 955-6716	573	39	14.8	34.0%	286 (49.9%)	104 (18.2%)	79 (13.8%)	34 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	69 (12.0%)	80.8	369^th of 2240 public elementary schools	83.5%		75.1	513^th of 2258 public elementary schools	77.3%	144	75.0	74.0	74.0	65.0	87.0	77.0	83.0
Hidden Oak Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2100 Fort Clarke Blvd	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 333-2801	694	46	15.0	35.0%	309 (44.5%)	144 (20.7%)	127 (18.3%)	65 (9.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (6.8%)	73.4	543^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	75.8%		75.4	508^th of 2258 public elementary schools	77.5%	35	78.0	72.0	69.0	66.0	68.0	77.0	71.0
The One Room School House Project	Public, Charter	K-5	4180 NE 15th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(352) 376-4014	176	11	16.0	71.0%	38 (21.6%)	104 (59.1%)	11 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	22 (12.5%)	63.2	808^th of 2240 public elementary schools	63.9%		41.2	1324^th of 2258 public elementary schools	41.4%	516	83.0	68.0	61.0	83.0	61.0	50.0	61.0
Caring & Sharing Learning School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1951 SE 4th St	Gainesville	32641	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(352) 372-1004	369	18	20.5	65.9%	1 (0.3%)	342 (92.7%)	10 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.1%)	68.4	667^th of 2240 public elementary schools	70.2%		70.7	619^th of 2258 public elementary schools	72.6%	48	57.0	64.0	75.0	72.0	62.0	83.0	73.0
Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2525 School House Rd	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 333-2825	692	42	16.3	34.7%	280 (40.5%)	162 (23.4%)	107 (15.5%)	94 (13.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (6.8%)	69.8	636^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.6%		69.8	647^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.3%	11	65.0	80.0	70.0	67.0	73.0	65.0	67.0
Expressions Learning Arts Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	5408 SW 13th St	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 373-5223	84	10	8.7	38.1%	46 (54.8%)	8 (9.5%)	11 (13.1%)	12 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	6 (7.1%)	64.5	769^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.7%		89	196^th of 2258 public elementary schools	91.3%	573	67.0		75.0	80.0		75.0	33.0
Meadowbrook Elementary School	Public	K-5	11525 NW 39th Ave	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 333-2828	791	53	14.9	33.8%	394 (49.8%)	143 (18.1%)	124 (15.7%)	68 (8.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	60 (7.6%)	69.2	649^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.0%		71.1	607^th of 2258 public elementary schools	73.1%	42	64.0	71.0	68.0	70.0	77.0	65.0	69.0
Alachua Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)	Public, Virtual	K-5	1108 NW 7th Ave	Gainesville	32601	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	Yes	No	(352) 955-6840	29	0		44.8%	11 (37.9%)	10 (34.5%)	6 (20.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)								(n/a)
Boulware Springs Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	1303 NE 23rd Ave	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(352) 244-9732	171	14	12.2	56.7%	37 (21.6%)	102 (59.6%)	19 (11.1%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.4%)	72.2	570^th of 2240 public elementary schools	74.6%		69.8	648^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.3%	78	84.0	69.0	74.0	68.0	66.0	71.0	68.0

Cities Near Gainesville

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Newberry	8.14 mi	4	149^th
Micanopy	10.68 mi	2	106^th
Alachua	12.21 mi	6	157^th
Archer	13.83 mi	1	153^rd
Waldo	14.53 mi	2

See the top FL Florida cities

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.