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W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

2200^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 2% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Gainesville, FL, serving 463 students within the Alachua school district, where over 86% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The most pressing issue at Metcalfe is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 53.3% (2023-2024), which is nearly double the district and state averages. This directly impacts academic performance, with proficiency rates in Math (26-28%) and English Language Arts (33-40%) roughly half of district averages. While the school spends $12,985 per student—above the state average—this investment has not translated into strong outcomes. Nearby Boulware Springs Charter, located just 0.3 miles away, spends $9,725 per student but achieves top-quartile state rankings with a 17.6% absenteeism rate and proficiency rates 2-3 times higher than Metcalfe's. Similarly, The One Room School House Project, serving a high-poverty population, ranks in the 64th percentile statewide, showing that high poverty does not have to dictate low performance.

There was a slight, inconsistent uptick in some 2024-2025 test scores (e.g., 3rd Grade Math rose from 26% to 35%), but these gains were not sustained across all subjects or grades, and 2025-2026 scores have largely fallen back down. This suggests that any interventions attempted were not systemic or durable. The stark contrast with nearby schools like Boulware Springs Charter indicates that Metcalfe's challenges are likely tied to school-specific culture, attendance policies, and instructional strategies rather than solely community demographics. A fundamental change in these areas is urgently needed to improve student outcomes.

463

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

86.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1250 NE 18th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32609

(352) 955-6713

District: Alachua

Students who attend W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Eastside High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

80.1%

Hispanic:

7.3%

Two or more races:

6.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 14th percentile in 2016 → 2nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (29% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (53% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school29%

District avg56%

Florida avg62%

2,200^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 14% (2016) to bottom 2% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

25^th of 28Elementary Schools in the Alachua

50^th of 70Alachua among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	4.9	2200 of 2240	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.5	2189 of 2258	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.3	2209 of 2256	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.3	2199 of 2240	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.3	2129 of 2219	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	22.6	1761 of 2247	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.5	1800 of 2182	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.2	1992 of 2118	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	12.7	1952 of 2112	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	18.0	1786 of 2087	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	16.0	1846 of 2064	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	15.0	1841 of 2029	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	5.6	1942 of 1984	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	12.1	1829 of 1985	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	13.8	1749 of 1919	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	6.9	1777 of 1847	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	16.2	1582 of 1789	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	1.7	1771 of 1786	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	4.9	1643 of 1688	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts36%-24 vs state

Math27%-37 vs state

Science17%-43 vs state

★

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Schools Near W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)			FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Total
W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School	Public	K-5	1250 NE 18th Ave	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6713	463	32	14.3	86.6%	24 (5.2%)	371 (80.1%)	34 (7.3%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.3%)	4.9	2200^th of 2240 public elementary schools	1.8%		7.5	2189^th of 2258 public elementary schools	3.1%	11	40.0	33.0	35.0	26.0	28.0	27.0	17.0
Boulware Springs Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	1303 NE 23rd Ave	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(352) 244-9732	171	14	12.2	56.7%	37 (21.6%)	102 (59.6%)	19 (11.1%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.4%)	72.2	570^th of 2240 public elementary schools	74.6%		69.8	648^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.3%	78	84.0	69.0	74.0	68.0	66.0	71.0	68.0
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	3500 NE 15th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 955-6715	312	25	12.4	89.7%	13 (4.2%)	263 (84.3%)	22 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.5%)	0.7	2227^th of 2240 public elementary schools	0.6%		2.9	2235^th of 2258 public elementary schools	1.0%	8	18.0	24.0	22.0	11.0	20.0	11.0	14.0
The One Room School House Project	Public, Charter	K-5	4180 NE 15th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(352) 376-4014	176	11	16.0	71.0%	38 (21.6%)	104 (59.1%)	11 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	22 (12.5%)	63.2	808^th of 2240 public elementary schools	63.9%		41.2	1324^th of 2258 public elementary schools	41.4%	516	83.0	68.0	61.0	83.0	61.0	50.0	61.0
Joseph Williams Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	1245 SE 7th Ave	Gainesville	32641	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 955-6719	398	27	14.7	82.2%	20 (5.0%)	328 (82.4%)	12 (3.0%)	5 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.0%)	3.8	2209^th of 2240 public elementary schools	1.4%		4.9	2220^th of 2258 public elementary schools	1.7%	11	13.0	25.0	35.0	10.0	16.0	32.0	38.0
Alachua Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)	Public, Virtual	K-5	1108 NW 7th Ave	Gainesville	32601	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	Yes	No	(352) 955-6840	29	0		44.8%	11 (37.9%)	10 (34.5%)	6 (20.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)								(n/a)
Stephen Foster Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	3800 NW 6th St	Gainesville	32609	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 955-6706	403	29	13.9	59.1%	90 (22.3%)	187 (46.4%)	67 (16.6%)	24 (6.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (8.4%)	17.1	1995^th of 2240 public elementary schools	10.9%		18.7	1957^th of 2258 public elementary schools	13.3%	38	36.0	46.0	48.0	30.0	49.0	43.0	48.0
Caring & Sharing Learning School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	1951 SE 4th St	Gainesville	32641	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	Yes	(352) 372-1004	369	18	20.5	65.9%	1 (0.3%)	342 (92.7%)	10 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.1%)	68.4	667^th of 2240 public elementary schools	70.2%		70.7	619^th of 2258 public elementary schools	72.6%	48	57.0	64.0	75.0	72.0	62.0	83.0	73.0
Carolyn Beatrice Parker Elementary	Public	K-5	1912 NW 5th Ave	Gainesville	32603	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6705	501	36	13.7	37.7%	165 (32.9%)	126 (25.1%)	163 (32.5%)	24 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.6%)	27.1	1741^st of 2240 public elementary schools	22.3%		27.6	1708^th of 2258 public elementary schools	24.4%	33	53.0	38.0	55.0	45.0	39.0	50.0	59.0
Lake Forest Elementary School	Public	K-5	4401 SE 4th Ave	Gainesville	32641	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6710	268	19	14.1	84.7%	22 (8.2%)	209 (78.0%)	23 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.1%)	2.1	2221^st of 2240 public elementary schools	0.8%		11.5	2112^th of 2258 public elementary schools	6.5%	109	24.0	26.0	20.0	31.0	23.0	23.0	27.0

Frequently Asked Questions about W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School

How many students attend W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 463 students attended W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School.

Is W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School a good school?

W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School ranks in the bottom 1.8% of Florida elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School?

Students at W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School are 80% African American, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% White, 1% Asian.

What schools do graduates of W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School attend?

Students who attend W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Eastside High School

What district is W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School in?

Alachua

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.