Blountstown Elementary School

Blountstown Elementary School serves 484 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th Grade in the Calhoun County School District, a rural area in the Florida Panhandle where the district itself earns a strong 4-star rating, though the school's performance has been inconsistent, ranking in the 46th percentile with 2 stars in the most recent year.

A major concern for parents is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 39.9%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 31.4% and reflects a district-wide challenge in Calhoun County. This issue directly impacts learning, especially in early grades where only 47% of 3rd graders and 52% of 4th graders are proficient in English Language Arts—well below state averages. However, there is a bright spot: 5th graders consistently outperform younger students, with 71% proficient in ELA and 67% in Science, the latter being 7 points above the state average. This "5th Grade Bounce" suggests that instruction or interventions in upper grades are working well, and replicating these strategies in lower grades could boost overall performance.

Compared to nearby schools, Blountstown shows a mixed picture. Sneads Elementary School, just 18 miles away in Jackson County, has a similar poverty rate but achieves much higher scores (70% in 3rd Grade ELA), indicating that instructional quality or school culture may be key factors. Meanwhile, W. R. Tolar K-8 School, only 5.4 miles away in Liberty County, has lower chronic absenteeism and spending but ranks lower overall, showing that Blountstown manages slightly better outcomes despite its attendance crisis. For parents, the school's potential is clear in its strong 5th-grade results, but addressing early-grade reading and attendance will be critical for long-term success.