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Idylwild Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

2155^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 4% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Idylwild Elementary School in Gainesville, FL, serves 627 students from Kindergarten through 5th grade and is part of the Alachua school district, which ranks in the bottom half of Florida districts.

Idylwild faces significant challenges, most notably a crisis-level chronic absenteeism rate of 45.9% for the 2023-2024 school year. This is nearly 1.5 times the district and state averages, and dramatically higher than nearby schools like Glen Springs Elementary (19.8%) and Kimball Wiles Elementary (23.1%). Academic performance is critically low, with proficiency rates ranging from 19% in 5th Grade Math to 44% in 3rd and 5th Grade English Language Arts. This is in stark contrast to nearby Boulware Springs Charter, which achieves proficiency rates above 70% in the same subjects. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Florida elementary schools over the past decade, earning a 0-star rating for the 2025-2026 school year.

Interestingly, Idylwild spends more per student ($12,369) than high-performing peers like Boulware Springs Charter ($9,725) and Caring & Sharing Learning School ($8,582), suggesting the issue is not a lack of funding but how resources are used amid high poverty (69.2% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch). A glimmer of hope exists: in the 2023-2024 school year, Idylwild achieved a 1-star rating with stronger test scores, showing it is capable of better performance. However, the school struggles to maintain gains, and the sharp drop back to a 0-star rating highlights a lack of consistency. Just 0.63 miles away, Expressions Learning Arts Academy is a 5-star charter school with a 15.2% chronic absenteeism rate and math proficiency above 80%, demonstrating that the challenges at Idylwild are not inherent to the neighborhood but tied to school culture and family engagement.

627

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

69.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4601 SW 20th Ter
Gainesville, FL 32608

(352) 955-6709

District: Alachua

Students who attend Idylwild Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Abraham Lincoln Middle School
High:	Gainesville High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

54.5%

Hispanic:

21.1%

White:

11.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Idylwild Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 21st percentile in 2016 → 4th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (35% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (46% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg56%

Florida avg62%

2,155^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 21% (2016) to bottom 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

24^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	9.0	2155 of 2240	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	12.2	2100 of 2258	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.6	1938 of 2256	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.1	1870 of 2240	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	7.3	2146 of 2219	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.9	2024 of 2247	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	20.2	1838 of 2182	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.5	1841 of 2118	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.9	1811 of 2112	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.5	1654 of 2087	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	32.6	1448 of 2064	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	38.2	1272 of 2029	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.5	1330 of 1984	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	18.2	1725 of 1985	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.5	1443 of 1919	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.4	1310 of 1847	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	26.2	1395 of 1789	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	31.3	1289 of 1786	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	32.9	1174 of 1688	30.5%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts42%-18 vs state

Math31%-33 vs state

Science24%-36 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, June 13, 2014

A year ago, we moved from a country where our main language was spanish, my child knows the english language only from an academic environment, but it was not a barrier for her or her teachers. They did a great job helping her to adapt to the new school, new culture and new friends. Is an excellent school, the principal is very nice and respectful with their students, as well as the teachers. My child really had a great experience in this school! I'm grateful for all the help and the feedback that I received from the teachers through her year in Idylwild. Close Quote

Schools Near Idylwild Elementary School

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
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
Expressions Learning Arts Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	5408 SW 13th St	Gainesville	32608	Alachua County	Alachua	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 373-5223	84	10	8.7	38.1%	46 (54.8%)	8 (9.5%)	11 (13.1%)	12 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	6 (7.1%)	64.5	769^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.7%		89	196^th of 2258 public elementary schools	91.3%	573	67.0		75.0	80.0		75.0	33.0
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
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)
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
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
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Idylwild Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Idylwild Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Idylwild Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Abraham Lincoln Middle School
High : Gainesville High School

What district is Idylwild Elementary School in?

Alachua

How many students attend Idylwild Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 627 students attended Idylwild Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Idylwild Elementary School?

Students at Idylwild Elementary School are 55% African American, 21% Hispanic, 12% White, 8% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

Is Idylwild Elementary School a good school?

Idylwild Elementary School ranks in the bottom 3.8% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate Idylwild Elementary School!

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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.