Summary
Westside Elementary School in Spring Hill, FL, serves 512 students in grades PK-5 within the Hernando district, and it is a high-poverty school where over 72% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. While the school has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1—one of the lowest in the area—its academic performance has declined over recent years, earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 36th percentile of Florida elementary schools. A major concern is a severe chronic absenteeism crisis, with 40.8% of students chronically absent in 2023-2024, more than double the rate from 2019-2020, which is significantly higher than nearby schools like Spring Hill Elementary (36.9%) and John D. Floyd Elementary (32.1%).
Despite these challenges, Westside shows a notable strength in math, particularly in 4th grade, where 66% of students were proficient in 2025-2026—above both the district (61%) and state (65%) averages. However, the school struggles significantly in English Language Arts (ELA), with 3rd-grade proficiency at 44%, which is 17 points below the district average. This pattern suggests that while math instruction may be effective, there is a critical need for targeted reading and writing interventions, especially in early grades. The school also spends a high amount per student—$13,531—which is over $3,000 more than Suncoast Elementary, a higher-performing school with a 4-star rating, indicating potential operational inefficiencies.
In stark contrast, Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math, a magnet school just 8 miles away, achieves a 5-star rating with 93rd percentile ranking, a chronic absenteeism rate of only 14.3%, and far higher proficiency rates—such as 80% in 5th-grade math versus Westside’s 52%. This comparison highlights the profound impact of socioeconomic factors on school performance, as Westside serves a much more disadvantaged population. Overall, Westside’s declining trajectory, combined with rising absenteeism and stagnant test scores, suggests the school needs a comprehensive, data-driven intervention plan to reverse its trends and better support its students.
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