Best Public Schools in Perry, FL

The city of Perry, Florida, is served by the Taylor County School District, which operates four public schools—Taylor County High School, Taylor County Middle School, Taylor County Primary School (grades K-2), and Taylor County Elementary School (grades 3-5)—for a total of 2,261 students. The district ranks in the 56th percentile statewide, earning a 3-star rating, but individual schools show stark contrasts in performance and challenges.

The most striking finding is the "Algebra 1 Paradox" between the middle and high schools. Taylor County Middle School achieves an exceptional 92% proficiency rate in Algebra 1, yet Taylor County High School posts only a 29% proficiency rate in the same subject—a dramatic drop that suggests either a different cohort of test-takers or a significant loss of skills between grades. Meanwhile, the high school shows strength in US History (79% proficient) and Biology (66% proficient), but its 81.5% graduation rate falls well below the state average of 92.2%. The middle school also struggles with English Language Arts, with all grade levels scoring below state averages, even as it excels in math.

The most critical district-wide issue is chronic absenteeism, which averages 54.7%—nearly double the state average of 31.4%. Taylor County High School has the highest rate at 59.1%, followed closely by the middle school at 58.4%. Socioeconomic pressure is also high, with Taylor County Primary School having the highest free/reduced lunch rate at 74%, compared to the high school's 52.7%. Taylor County Elementary School is the lowest-ranked school in the district, showing declining proficiency in 5th-grade science and 4th-grade math, while the primary school maintains a lower student-teacher ratio of 15.1. Any improvement strategy must first tackle the absenteeism crisis to unlock academic potential across all schools.