Elementary Schools in Clay

This analysis covers Clay County's 29 elementary schools, serving grades PK-6 (with one K-8 exception), in a district ranked 17th out of 70 in Florida and earning a 4-star rating.

The standout star is Orange Park Elementary School, ranking in the 99th percentile statewide (37th out of 2,240 schools) with phenomenal test scores and the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 7.9%. Other top performers include Robert M. Paterson Elementary (97th percentile) and Fleming Island Elementary School (92nd percentile), both 5-star schools with low absenteeism rates below 14%. At the other end, Grove Park Elementary School (20th percentile) and Charles E. Bennett Elementary School (39th percentile) face significant challenges, with chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 37% and very low test scores. Notably, Shadowlawn Elementary School defies expectations, ranking in the 85th percentile despite a 59% free/reduced lunch rate, proving that effective strategies can overcome socioeconomic hurdles.

A key finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results—W E Cherry Elementary School spends the most ($14,600 per student) but holds a 3-star rating, while top-ranked Orange Park spends just $9,608. Chronic absenteeism emerges as the strongest predictor of performance, with the top three schools all below 14% absenteeism and the bottom three above 30%. The district average absenteeism of 26.7% is better than the state's 31.4%, but the gap between schools is wide. Additionally, many schools show a "6th grade bounce" where students significantly outperform their 5th-grade peers in math and reading, suggesting a curriculum or maturity effect before middle school transition.