Elementary Schools in Gilchrist

The Gilchrist school district in Florida is home to two elementary schools, Trenton Elementary School and Bell Elementary School, both serving grades PK-5 in a highly-ranked district that places in the 91st percentile statewide.

Trenton Elementary School stands out as the more consistent and reliable choice for a student's entire elementary career. It has maintained a strong state ranking in the 68th-70th percentile over the past three years, while Bell Elementary School has seen a significant decline from the 77th to the 53rd percentile. Trenton excels in upper elementary grades, with 5th-grade ELA (71%) and 4th-grade Math (79%) scores far exceeding Bell's (54% and 61%, respectively) and the state average. Trenton also boasts a lower chronic absenteeism rate (23.1%) compared to Bell (27.0%), indicating better student engagement. In contrast, Bell is a "3rd-grade powerhouse," achieving remarkable 86% proficiency in ELA and 90% in Math for 3rd graders—the highest in the district. However, Bell shows a dramatic drop-off, with 5th-grade Math proficiency falling to just 48%, suggesting a challenge in retaining early academic gains.

Both schools serve a similar, moderately high-need population, with about 51% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Trenton spends slightly more per student ($12,761) than Bell ($12,288), and this higher spending correlates with better overall consistency and stronger upper-grade performance. Bell's higher chronic absenteeism rate may contribute to its academic decline in later grades, as students who miss school in early grades often struggle with more complex material. For parents, Trenton Elementary School offers a more stable, high-performing environment across all grade levels, while Bell Elementary School provides an exceptional start in 3rd grade but may require additional support to maintain that momentum through 5th grade.