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Myra Terwilliger Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2001^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 11% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Myra Terwilliger Elementary School is a public school in Gainesville, FL, serving 672 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Alachua district, and it faces significant challenges compared to nearby schools.

The most pressing issue at Myra Terwilliger is its extremely high chronic absenteeism rate, which reached 44.3% in the 2023-2024 school year. This is dramatically higher than many nearby schools, such as Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School (19.1%) and Hidden Oak Elementary School (17.6%). The school also has a high percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (66.67%), nearly double the rate at higher-performing neighbors like Meadowbrook Elementary School (33.75%). These factors contribute to persistently low academic performance, with proficiency rates in subjects like 5th grade math (46%) and 3rd grade ELA (44%) falling well below district and state averages. For context, nearby Healthy Learning Academy Charter School achieved 81% proficiency in 3rd grade ELA.

Despite these challenges, there are slight signs of improvement. The school's state ranking has risen from the 2nd percentile in 2021-2022 to the 11th percentile in 2025-2026, and test scores have edged upward from very low bases. However, Myra Terwilliger remains a 1-star school, while most nearby schools earn 3 or 4 stars. Notably, per-student spending at Myra Terwilliger ($12,777) is higher than at many higher-performing peers, such as Meadowbrook ($9,801) and Hidden Oak ($10,867), indicating that financial resources alone are not solving the underlying issues. The stark contrast with Lawton M. Chiles Elementary, just 1.81 miles away, which has a 4-star ranking and much lower absenteeism and poverty rates, highlights how socioeconomic factors and attendance can create vastly different outcomes for schools in the same community.

672

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

66.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3999 SW 122nd St
Gainesville, FL 32608

(352) 955-6717

District: Alachua

Students who attend Myra Terwilliger Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Kanapaha Middle School
High:	F. W. Buchholz High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

44.8%

Hispanic:

23.2%

White:

19.8%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Myra Terwilliger Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 2nd percentile in 2022 → 11th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 11th (2026) from a 2nd-percentile low (2022)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (43% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (11th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg56%

Florida avg62%

2,001^st of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 11%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 27% (2016) to bottom 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

22^nd 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	16.8	2001 of 2240	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.2	1900 of 2258	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.7	1862 of 2256	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	12.0	2103 of 2240	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.2	2166 of 2219	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.6	1937 of 2247	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.4	1900 of 2182	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	7.7	2042 of 2118	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	18.1	1832 of 2112	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.8	1518 of 2087	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	33.0	1437 of 2064	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.7	1233 of 2029	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	37.4	1274 of 1984	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	31.0	1477 of 1985	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.5	1673 of 1919	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.5	1411 of 1847	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.6	1424 of 1789	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	35.4	1216 of 1786	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	25.2	1311 of 1688	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%-15 vs state

Math43%-21 vs state

Science35%-25 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, October 31, 2014

My grandchild wants to go to school every day. She likes her teacher and is trying to make friends. I still have to "make" her do her homework but that is not because she is in Terwilliger. I had to do that at her last school(J.J. Finley) also. The staff is friendly and I "love" that she gets free breakfast and lunch. Close Quote

Schools Near Myra Terwilliger 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
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3999 SW 122nd St	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6717	672	49	13.8	66.7%	133 (19.8%)	301 (44.8%)	156 (23.2%)	18 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (9.4%)	16.8	2001^st of 2240 public elementary schools	10.7%		20.2	1900^th of 2258 public elementary schools	15.9%	101	44.0	49.0	45.0	43.0	41.0	46.0	35.0
Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2525 School House Rd	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 333-2825	692	42	16.3	34.7%	280 (40.5%)	162 (23.4%)	107 (15.5%)	94 (13.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (6.8%)	69.8	636^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.6%		69.8	647^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.3%	11	65.0	80.0	70.0	67.0	73.0	65.0	67.0
Healthy Learning Academy Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	13505 West Newberry Rd	Newberry	32669	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 372-2279	107	5	23.4	10.3%	73 (68.2%)	8 (7.5%)	13 (12.1%)	4 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	8 (7.5%)	77.6	440^th of 2240 public elementary schools	80.4%		67.5	706^th of 2258 public elementary schools	68.7%	266	81.0	83.0	85.0	75.0	78.0	60.0	65.0
Kimball Wiles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4601 SW 75th St	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6955	741	53	14.1	45.2%	269 (36.3%)	172 (23.2%)	141 (19.0%)	97 (13.1%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (7.6%)	59	906^th of 2240 public elementary schools	59.6%		60.1	883^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	60.9%	23	73.0	63.0	70.0	71.0	55.0	53.0	65.0
Hidden Oak Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2100 Fort Clarke Blvd	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 333-2801	694	46	15.0	35.0%	309 (44.5%)	144 (20.7%)	127 (18.3%)	65 (9.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (6.8%)	73.4	543^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	75.8%		75.4	508^th of 2258 public elementary schools	77.5%	35	78.0	72.0	69.0	66.0	68.0	77.0	71.0
Meadowbrook Elementary School	Public	K-5	11525 NW 39th Ave	Gainesville	32606	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	No	(352) 333-2828	791	53	14.9	33.8%	394 (49.8%)	143 (18.1%)	124 (15.7%)	68 (8.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	60 (7.6%)	69.2	649^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.0%		71.1	607^th of 2258 public elementary schools	73.1%	42	64.0	71.0	68.0	70.0	77.0	65.0	69.0
Littlewood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1262 NW 31st Drive	Gainesville	32605	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6712	714	50	14.2	45.5%	250 (35.0%)	222 (31.1%)	152 (21.3%)	33 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (8.0%)	53.8	1052^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	53.0%		65	756^th of 2258 public elementary schools	66.5%	296	60.0	63.0	63.0	63.0	67.0	61.0	57.0
Archer Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	14533 SW 170th St	Archer	32618	Alachua County	Alachua	No	Yes	No	Yes	(352) 495-2111	413	26	15.7	50.6%	210 (50.8%)	109 (26.4%)	53 (12.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (9.0%)	59.7	879^th of 2240 public elementary schools	60.8%		60.2	877^th of 2258 public elementary schools	61.2%	2	72.0	70.0	58.0	69.0	71.0	58.0	58.0
Idylwild Elementary School	Public	K-5	4601 SW 20th Ter	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6709	627	40	15.6	69.2%	73 (11.6%)	342 (54.5%)	132 (21.1%)	26 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (8.5%)	9	2155^th of 2240 public elementary schools	3.8%		12.2	2100^th of 2258 public elementary schools	7.0%	55	44.0	37.0	44.0	38.0	33.0	19.0	24.0
Glen Springs Elementary School	Public	K-5	2826 NW 31st Ave	Gainesville	32605	Alachua County	Alachua	No	No	No	Yes	(352) 955-6708	429	29	14.7	38.2%	198 (46.2%)	111 (25.9%)	59 (13.8%)	18 (4.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.8%)	51.5	1101^st of 2240 public elementary schools	50.8%		56.3	966^th of 2258 public elementary schools	57.2%	135	76.0	61.0	65.0	58.0	56.0	46.0	64.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Myra Terwilliger Elementary School

Is Myra Terwilliger Elementary School a good school?

Myra Terwilliger Elementary School ranks in the bottom 10.7% of Florida elementary schools.

What district is Myra Terwilliger Elementary School in?

Alachua

How many students attend Myra Terwilliger Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 672 students attended Myra Terwilliger Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Myra Terwilliger Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Myra Terwilliger Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kanapaha Middle School
High : F. W. Buchholz High School

What is the racial makeup of Myra Terwilliger Elementary School?

Students at Myra Terwilliger Elementary School are 45% African American, 23% Hispanic, 20% White, 9% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

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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.