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O. J. Semmes Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

2217^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 2% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

O. J. Semmes Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Pensacola, Florida, with 288 students. The school is part of the Escambia School District, which is ranked 52 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Over the past several years, O. J. Semmes Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Florida elementary schools, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school faces significant challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 30.9% to 62.3% over the past few years, which is much higher than the district and state averages. Additionally, O. J. Semmes Elementary students perform well below their peers across the district and state in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. For example, in 2024-2025, only 24% of 3rd graders were proficient in ELA compared to 53% in the district and 57% statewide. The school also has an extremely high percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 86.26% to 91.06% over the past few years, which is much higher than the district and state averages.

When comparing O. J. Semmes Elementary to nearby schools in the Escambia district, such as A.K. Suter Elementary and Cordova Park Elementary, it is clear that O. J. Semmes is an outlier in terms of performance, with significantly higher chronic absenteeism rates, lower test scores, and higher poverty levels. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the school to improve student outcomes and provide a high-quality education for its students.

344

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,099

Per pupil spending ?

86.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1250 E Texar Dr
Pensacola, FL 32503

(850) 595-6975

District: Escambia

Students who attend O. J. Semmes Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	J. H. Workman Middle School
High:	Washington Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

75.0%

White:

9.9%

Two or more races:

7.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare O. J. Semmes Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 2nd percentile in 2014 → 2nd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (25% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (62% vs 31% Florida)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg55%

Florida avg58%

2,217^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 13 pts since 2016

From bottom 15% (2016) to bottom 2% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

34^th of 35Elementary Schools in the Escambia

52^nd of 67Escambia 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
2025	5.3	2217 of 2258	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	2097 of 2256	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.8	2134 of 2240	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.6	2089 of 2219	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.6	2111 of 2247	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	16.8	1920 of 2182	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.1	1964 of 2118	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	12.4	1958 of 2112	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	18.5	1777 of 2087	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	5.1	2027 of 2064	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	5.6	1993 of 2029	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	15.4	1765 of 1984	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.1	1765 of 1985	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	5.6	1862 of 1919	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	3.7	1816 of 1847	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	12.5	1651 of 1789	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	3.2	1757 of 1786	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	4.0	1654 of 1688	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math28%-32 vs state

Science24%-31 vs state

English Language Arts22%-35 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Saturday, April 21, 2012

My son has went to 3 elem school's and this is the worse by far. Close Quote

Schools Near O. J. Semmes Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)				FAST Math (2025)				Statewide Science Science (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
O. J. Semmes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1250 E Texar Dr	Pensacola	32503	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 595-6975	344	22	15.6	86.3%	34 (9.9%)	258 (75.0%)	23 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.6%)	5.3	2217^th of 2258 public elementary schools	1.8%		12.6	2097^th of 2256 public elementary schools	7.0%	120	24.0	13.0	27.0		44.0	24.0	17.0		24.0	$14,099	$2,032	$12,067
Cordova Park Elementary School	Public	K-6	2250 Semur Rd	Pensacola	32503	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	No	(850) 595-6830	596	38	15.6	40.8%	375 (62.9%)	122 (20.5%)	51 (8.6%)	9 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.5%)	81.7	376^th of 2258 public elementary schools	83.3%		79.4	429^th of 2256 public elementary schools	81.0%	53	69.0	75.0	70.0	65.0	84.0	73.0	70.0	80.0	73.0	$10,305	$565	$9,741
N. B. Cook Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	1310 N 12th Ave	Pensacola	32503	Escambia County	Escambia	No	Yes	No	No	(850) 595-6826	530	34	15.5	42.6%	249 (47.0%)	148 (27.9%)	59 (11.1%)	22 (4.2%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (9.2%)	91.2	128^th of 2258 public elementary schools	94.3%		90.5	158^th of 2256 public elementary schools	93.0%	30	74.0	85.0	89.0		77.0	85.0	86.0		85.0	$11,037	$726	$10,312
Brentwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4820 N Palafox St	Pensacola	32505	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 595-6800	390	26	15.0	77.7%	98 (25.1%)	220 (56.4%)	39 (10.0%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	28 (7.2%)	15.9	2013^th of 2258 public elementary schools	10.9%		16.8	1983^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	12.1%	30	38.0	38.0	38.0		31.0	34.0	14.0		55.0	$11,524	$1,744	$9,781
A. K. Suter Elementary School	Public	K-5	501 Pickens Ave	Pensacola	32503	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	No	(850) 595-6810	500	29	17.2	48.4%	287 (57.4%)	127 (25.4%)	34 (6.8%)	18 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.8%)	76.9	477^th of 2258 public elementary schools	78.9%		79.2	433^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	80.8%	44	75.0	58.0	69.0		77.0	76.0	64.0		69.0	$11,618	$1,191	$10,426
C. A. Weis Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2701 N Q St	Pensacola	32505	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 595-6888	538	31	17.3	89.4%	45 (8.4%)	420 (78.1%)	28 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (8.2%)	10.3	2143^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	5.1%		21.2	1875^th of 2256 public elementary schools	16.9%	268	35.0	29.0	31.0		39.0	26.0	31.0		40.0	$11,578	$1,989	$9,588
Reinhardt Holm Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6101 Lanier Dr	Pensacola	32504	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 494-5610	480	32	15.0	74.4%	101 (21.0%)	298 (62.1%)	40 (8.3%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (7.5%)	35.5	1486^th of 2258 public elementary schools	34.2%		42.4	1283^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	43.1%	203	40.0	54.0	44.0		32.0	67.0	52.0		50.0	$12,613	$1,821	$10,792
Coastal Connections Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter	K-5	186 N Palafox St	Pensacola	32502	Escambia County	Santa Rosa	Yes	No	Yes	No	(850) 359-1545	261	5	52.2	3.8%	109 (41.8%)	42 (16.1%)	77 (29.5%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	28 (10.7%)	11.1	2121^st of 2258 public elementary schools	6.1%		14.5	2049^th of 2256 public elementary schools	9.2%	72	36.0	45.0	39.0		22.0	19.0	24.0		30.0	$7,050	$00	$7,050
Montclair Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	820 Massachusetts Ave	Pensacola	32505	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 595-6969	363	25	14.5	83.7%	22 (6.1%)	285 (78.5%)	28 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	26 (7.2%)	26.8	1730^th of 2258 public elementary schools	23.4%		16	2007^th of 2256 public elementary schools	11.0%	277	36.0	36.0	35.0		48.0	72.0	48.0		37.0	$12,862	$1,987	$10,874
Oakcrest Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1820 Hollywood Ave	Pensacola	32505	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 595-6980	527	33	15.9	56.7%	53 (10.1%)	222 (42.1%)	215 (40.8%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.1%)	19 (3.6%)	13.1	2078^th of 2258 public elementary schools	8.0%		9.3	2168^th of 2256 public elementary schools	3.9%	90	20.0	25.0	22.0		46.0	55.0	38.0		30.0	$10,976	$1,063	$9,913

Frequently Asked Questions about O. J. Semmes Elementary School

What schools do graduates of O. J. Semmes Elementary School attend?

Students who attend O. J. Semmes Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : J. H. Workman Middle School
High : Washington Senior High School

What district is O. J. Semmes Elementary School in?

Escambia

How many students attend O. J. Semmes Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 344 students attended O. J. Semmes Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of O. J. Semmes Elementary School?

Students at O. J. Semmes Elementary School are 75% African American, 10% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic.

Is O. J. Semmes Elementary School a good school?

O. J. Semmes Elementary School ranks in the bottom 1.8% of Florida elementary schools.

Rate O. J. Semmes 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.