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Cedar Grove Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1836^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 18% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Cedar Grove Elementary School is a public school in Panama City, FL, serving 495 students in grades PK-5 within the Bay district, where about 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

For nearly a decade, Cedar Grove has ranked in the bottom 2-5% of all Florida elementary schools, but the most recent data (2025-2026) shows a dramatic improvement to the 18th percentile—its first star rating in years. For example, 5th-grade science proficiency jumped from 12% to 48%, and 3rd-grade math went from 25% to 51%. This turnaround is fragile, however, because the school faces a severe chronic absenteeism crisis: 60.1% of students were chronically absent in 2023-2024, nearly double the district average and the highest rate among nearby schools. Nearby Hiland Park Elementary School, just 2 miles away with a similar poverty rate (52% free/reduced lunch), has a lower absenteeism rate (41.3%) and outperforms Cedar Grove in nearly every subject, suggesting that school-level factors like leadership and culture can make a difference.

Interestingly, Cedar Grove spends a significant amount per student—$16,425 in 2024-2025—more than high-performing University Academy Sabl Inc ($16,034) and far more than Bay Haven Charter Academy ($9,065), which ranks in the 71st percentile. This spending paradox suggests that the school’s struggles are not due to a lack of funding but are tied to the overwhelming challenge of chronic absenteeism and high poverty. The recent academic gains are promising, but sustaining them will require tackling the attendance crisis head-on.

495

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,425

Per pupil spending ?

74.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2826 E 15th St
Panama City, FL 32405

(850) 767-4550

District: Bay

Students who attend Cedar Grove Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Merritt Brown Middle School
High:	Bay High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

32.9%

White:

31.5%

Hispanic:

18.2%

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Compare Cedar Grove Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 8th percentile in 2016 → 18th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (47% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (60% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg61%

Florida avg62%

1,836^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 18%▲ up 10 pts since 2016

From bottom 8% (2016) to bottom 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 24Elementary Schools in the Bay

28^th of 70Bay 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	23.4	1836 of 2240	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	10.7	2134 of 2258	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.9	2222 of 2256	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.9	2212 of 2240	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.5	2202 of 2219	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	4.8	2217 of 2247	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	5.1	2131 of 2182	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	5.7	2070 of 2118	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	19.8	1788 of 2112	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	12.4	1921 of 2087	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	12.2	1923 of 2064	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	12.9	1882 of 2029	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	14.3	1794 of 1984	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	11.4	1842 of 1985	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	21.1	1604 of 1919	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	43.0	1126 of 1847	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2008	36.4	1215 of 1789	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	31.0	1296 of 1786	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	24.1	1330 of 1688	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts50%-11 vs state

Science48%-12 vs state

Math43%-21 vs state

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Schools Near Cedar Grove 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cedar Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2826 E 15th St	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4550	495	34	14.5	74.7%	156 (31.5%)	163 (32.9%)	90 (18.2%)	6 (1.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	76 (15.4%)	23.4	1836^th of 2240 public elementary schools	18.0%		10.7	2134^th of 2258 public elementary schools	5.5%	298	56.0	42.0	50.0	51.0	32.0	45.0	48.0	$16,425	$2,509	$13,916
Oscar Patterson Academy	Public	PK, KG-4	1025 Redwood Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 767-1610	394	26	15.1	71.1%	93 (23.6%)	181 (45.9%)	85 (21.6%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	27 (6.9%)	5.9	2193^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	2.1%		6.2	2205^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.3%	12	35.0	28.0	37.0	33.0	22.0	40.0	33.0	$13,754	$1,935	$11,819
Hiland Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2507 E Baldwin Rd	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4685	684	40	17.1	52.2%	340 (49.7%)	117 (17.1%)	145 (21.2%)	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	70 (10.2%)	37.3	1469^th of 2240 public elementary schools	34.4%		21.5	1858^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.7%	389	41.0	64.0	63.0	50.0	56.0	50.0	54.0	$11,663	$1,679	$9,984
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1125 Cherry St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1480	343	27	12.7	64.1%	137 (39.9%)	126 (36.7%)	46 (13.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (9.0%)	17.2	1994^th of 2240 public elementary schools	11.0%		34.7	1508^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.2%	486	53.0	39.0	36.0	57.0	50.0	35.0	24.0	$14,360	$1,498	$12,862
Bay Haven Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	2501 Hawks Landing Blvd	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 248-3500	766	46	16.6	40.2%	485 (63.3%)	84 (11.0%)	105 (13.7%)	28 (3.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	60 (7.8%)	69.3	648^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.1%		67	716^th of 2258 public elementary schools	68.3%	68	73.0	60.0	65.0	87.0	68.0	71.0	65.0	$9,065	$3,683	$5,382
Parker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	640 S Highway 22 A	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4570	510	31	16.4	70.6%	164 (32.2%)	175 (34.3%)	111 (21.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (11.4%)	35.9	1501^st of 2240 public elementary schools	33.0%		26.3	1748^th of 2258 public elementary schools	22.6%	247	46.0	50.0	56.0	61.0	59.0	42.0	61.0	$11,939	$1,423	$10,516
Palm Bay Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	1104 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	Yes	(850) 215-0770	321	19	16.8	54.5%	106 (33.0%)	89 (27.7%)	88 (27.4%)	8 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	29 (9.0%)	44.3	1288^th of 2240 public elementary schools	42.5%		41.6	1303^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	42.3%	15	51.0	72.0	63.0	69.0	56.0	53.0	41.0	$10,818	$1,746	$9,072
Northside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2001 Northside Dr	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1506	569	36	15.8	51.1%	285 (50.1%)	99 (17.4%)	114 (20.0%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	59 (10.4%)	41.3	1366^th of 2240 public elementary schools	39.0%		34.8	1500^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.6%	134	57.0	55.0	57.0	63.0	55.0	53.0	55.0	$11,170	$1,188	$9,983
Callaway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7115 E Highway 22	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1241	622	31	20.0	67.2%	274 (44.1%)	140 (22.5%)	115 (18.5%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (14.1%)	33.2	1579^th of 2240 public elementary schools	29.5%		43	1275^th of 2258 public elementary schools	43.5%	304	46.0	46.0	52.0	45.0	53.0	68.0	60.0	$11,187	$1,280	$9,908
St. Andrew School At Oakland Terrace	Public	PK, KG-5	2010 W 12th St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4595	55	12	4.5	74.5%	22 (40.0%)	20 (36.4%)	2 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (18.2%)	0.6	2228^th of 2240 public elementary schools	0.5%		1.4	2245^th of 2258 public elementary schools	0.6%	17	21.0	0.0		21.0	0.0			$50,135	$6,694	$43,440

Frequently Asked Questions about Cedar Grove Elementary School

Is Cedar Grove Elementary School a good school?

Cedar Grove Elementary School ranks in the bottom 18.0% of Florida elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Cedar Grove Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Cedar Grove Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Merritt Brown Middle School
High : Bay High School

What is the racial makeup of Cedar Grove Elementary School?

Students at Cedar Grove Elementary School are 33% African American, 32% White, 18% Hispanic, 15% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Cedar Grove Elementary School in?

Bay

How many students attend Cedar Grove Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 495 students attended Cedar Grove 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.