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Joseph Williams Elementary School

Public, Magnet Grades K-5

2209^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 1% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Joseph Williams Elementary School is a K-5 public school in Gainesville, FL, serving 398 students within the Alachua district, where 82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating significant economic challenges in the community.

The most critical finding is a catastrophic academic decline between the 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 school years. Previously, Joseph Williams performed in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math ranging from 38% to 55%. However, by 2025-2026, proficiency rates collapsed dramatically—for example, 3rd-grade Math fell from 38% to just 10%, and 3rd-grade ELA dropped from 40% to 13%. This placed the school in the 1st percentile statewide, its lowest ranking ever. This sudden collapse is an anomaly that demands immediate investigation, as it represents a break from the relatively stable performance of the previous five years. Additionally, chronic absenteeism is a persistent issue, with a rate of 36.7% for the 2023-2024 school year, higher than both the district and state averages, and likely contributing to academic struggles.

Interestingly, the data shows that a school's fate is not determined by its neighborhood alone. Located within a mile of Joseph Williams is Caring & Sharing Learning School, a charter school serving a similarly high-poverty population (65.85% free/reduced lunch) but achieving dramatically different results—ranking in the 70th percentile statewide with proficiency rates of 57% to 83%. This stark contrast suggests that factors like school culture, instructional methods, and leadership can overcome socioeconomic challenges. Furthermore, Joseph Williams's per-student spending of $10,914 is lower than many similarly disadvantaged peers, such as W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School ($12,985) and Lake Forest Elementary School ($18,656), indicating that despite high need, the school may not receive the same level of financial resources as other high-poverty schools in the district.

398

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

82.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1245 SE 7th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32641

(352) 955-6719

District: Alachua

Students who attend Joseph Williams Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Abraham Lincoln Middle School
High:	Eastside High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

82.4%

Two or more races:

8.0%

White:

5.0%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Joseph Williams Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 49th percentile in 2016 → 1st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (23% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 48 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school23%

District avg56%

Florida avg62%

2,209^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 47 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

26^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	3.8	2209 of 2240	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.9	2220 of 2258	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	35.1	1488 of 2256	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.3	1433 of 2240	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.2	1482 of 2219	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.4	1560 of 2247	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	19.1	1861 of 2182	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.4	1591 of 2118	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.5	1366 of 2112	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	48.9	1068 of 2087	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	42.5	1193 of 2064	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.5	1341 of 2029	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	33.4	1349 of 1984	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	26.1	1560 of 1985	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	25.8	1517 of 1919	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.2	1299 of 1847	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	33.4	1276 of 1789	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.7	1083 of 1786	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2006	57.9	731 of 1688	56.7%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Science38%-22 vs state

English Language Arts23%-37 vs state

Math19%-46 vs state

★

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Schools Near Joseph Williams 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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph Williams Elementary School

Is Joseph Williams Elementary School a good school?

Joseph Williams Elementary School ranks in the bottom 1.4% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Joseph Williams Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Joseph Williams Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Abraham Lincoln Middle School
High : Eastside High School

What is the racial makeup of Joseph Williams Elementary School?

Students at Joseph Williams Elementary School are 82% African American, 8% Two or more races, 5% White, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is Joseph Williams Elementary School in?

Alachua

How many students attend Joseph Williams Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 398 students attended Joseph Williams Elementary School.

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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.