Eastside Elementary School

Eastside Elementary School in Clewiston, FL, is a mid-sized PK-5 school within the Hendry County School District, serving 477 students in a high-poverty community where 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Eastside has achieved a remarkable turnaround, rising from low 1-star ratings to a consistent 3-star rating for four consecutive years. Its 5th graders are the standout stars, posting exceptional proficiency rates of 78% in ELA and 83% in Math—scores that far exceed district and state averages and outperform every nearby school, including Westside Elementary School just 0.07 miles away. While Westside shows higher 3rd-grade Math scores (76% vs. 59%), its performance declines by 5th grade (59% ELA, 69% Math), whereas Eastside sustains and accelerates student growth. The school also consistently beats its own district averages by an average of 12 percentage points across all subjects and grades, and its 5th-grade Science scores (70% proficiency) are 10 points above the state average—a notable strength for a high-poverty school.

Despite these academic wins, Eastside faces a significant challenge: a chronic absenteeism rate of 36.1%, nearly double the district average. That the school achieves above-average test scores despite this hurdle speaks to the effectiveness of its in-school instruction and interventions. Additionally, Eastside spends just $12,121 per student—far less than nearby Palm Beach County schools like Pahokee Elementary School ($20,930) and Glade View Elementary School ($21,143)—yet achieves higher test scores, demonstrating strong operational efficiency. If attendance improves, Eastside’s already impressive results could leap even higher.