Elementary Schools in Taylor

The three elementary schools in the Taylor district serve approximately 1,231 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, with all schools facing high levels of economic disadvantage, as free/reduced lunch rates range from 63% to 74%.

Steinhatchee School is a clear standout, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the 98th percentile of Florida elementary schools. It achieves exceptional academic results despite a 63.39% poverty rate, with 100% of 4th and 5th graders proficient in Math and 94% of 5th graders proficient in English Language Arts. This small school benefits from a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1 and the highest per-student spending at $18,595—80% more than Taylor County Elementary School. In contrast, Taylor County Primary School (K-2) and Taylor County Elementary School (3-5) share similar profiles, with enrollment around 545-574 students, student-teacher ratios of 15.1:1 and 16:1, and per-student spending between $10,341 and $11,177. Both struggle with chronic absenteeism rates of 52.3%, far exceeding the state average of 31.4%.

The most pressing issue across the district is chronic absenteeism, with a district average of 54.7%—74% higher than the state average. Even Steinhatchee School’s rate of 35.7% exceeds the state average. Taylor County Elementary School shows a concerning pattern of declining proficiency as students age, with 3rd-grade Math at 68% dropping to 41% by 5th grade, and English Language Arts falling below state averages across all grades. The stark resource disparity within the district, where Steinhatchee receives over $8,000 more per student than Taylor County Elementary, highlights how targeted funding and smaller class sizes can help overcome socioeconomic challenges, making Steinhatchee a powerful example of high performance in a high-poverty setting.