Summary:
The city of Marathon, Florida, is served by two public schools within the Monroe County School District, a 4-star rated district ranked in the top 27% of Florida districts: Marathon School (grades 6-12, 809 students) and Stanley Switlik Elementary School (grades PK-5, 602 students).
Each school has a clear standout strength. Stanley Switlik Elementary excels in early math, with 81% of its 3rd graders proficient in math, well above both the district (70%) and state (66%) averages. Marathon School boasts a strong graduation rate of 93.8%, exceeding the district (91.9%) and state (92.2%) averages. However, both schools hold a 2-star state ranking, placing them in the lower half of Florida schools. A key difference is socioeconomic status: Stanley Switlik has a higher percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (66.61%) compared to Marathon School (49.32%). Both schools have similar per-student spending (over $17,300) and student-teacher ratios (around 14.7:1), and both have chronic absenteeism rates below the state average of 31.4%.
A notable finding is the "middle school math cliff" at Marathon School, where math proficiency drops sharply from 64% in 6th grade to just 27% in 8th grade. This contrasts with Stanley Switlik's strong 3rd-grade math performance. Additionally, test scores at Marathon School show significant year-over-year volatility, such as Geometry proficiency swinging from 46% to 64% in consecutive years. Despite low test scores, Marathon School's high graduation rate suggests a focus on credit recovery and student support. Finally, the high per-student spending (a "Marathon Premium" due to the Florida Keys' cost of living) does not translate into top-tier academic outcomes, raising questions about resource allocation.
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