Parkside Elementary School

Parkside Elementary School is a PK-5 public school in Naples, FL, serving 589 students within the highly-rated Collier County School District, and it has shown a clear upward trend in recent years, now ranking in the 53rd percentile statewide with a 3-star rating.

One of Parkside’s biggest strengths is its exceptional and consistent science performance. In 5th grade, 66% of students were proficient, nearly matching the district average and exceeding the state average. This is not a one-time achievement; in a previous year, Parkside’s science scores were 7 points higher than the district and 18 points higher than the state. The school also demonstrates a clear strength in mathematics, with an average math proficiency of 64.7% across tested grades, much closer to the district average than its English Language Arts (ELA) scores. However, ELA is an area for growth, with proficiency averaging 58%, and 3rd-grade reading scores have been a persistent challenge. Despite this, Parkside has remarkably low and improving chronic absenteeism—only 12.8% of students were chronically absent, which is less than half the state average and far better than nearby schools like Lely Elementary (21.5%) and Shadowlawn Elementary (20.2%).

An interesting finding is that Parkside achieves more in key areas despite spending less per student ($16,390) than many of its peers. For example, it outperforms higher-spending schools like Lavern Gaynor Elementary and Shadowlawn in science and has far better attendance. The comparison with Gulf Coast Charter Academy South is striking: despite having a lower poverty rate and lower spending, the charter school ranks in the bottom 5% of Florida schools, while Parkside dramatically outperforms it in every elementary-grade test score. Overall, Parkside is a school on an upward trajectory, successfully navigating challenges and building on its strengths, making it a compelling option for families.