Ponce De Leon Elementary School

Ponce De Leon Elementary School is a small, rural school in Holmes County, Florida, serving 272 students in grades PK through 5, with a high-poverty population where over 71% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Academically, Ponce De Leon Elementary faces significant challenges compared to nearby schools. The school has seen a sharp decline in its state ranking, dropping from the 56th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 12th percentile in 2025-2026. This performance gap is especially noticeable when compared to schools in the neighboring Walton district. For example, in 4th grade math, only 34% of Ponce De Leon students were proficient, while Freeport Elementary achieved 82% and West Defuniak Elementary reached 67%. This pattern holds across most subjects, suggesting that district-level resources and leadership in Walton County may be more effective. However, there is a bright spot: 5th grade science at Ponce De Leon stands out with a 55% proficiency rate, outperforming the Holmes district average (46%) and nearby Vernon Elementary (30%).

Chronic absenteeism is a major concern at Ponce De Leon, with a rate of 34.4% in 2023-2024—higher than the state average and comparable to Bonifay K-8 (31.2%). This likely contributes to the school's low test scores, as students who miss class cannot keep up. Interestingly, the school spends $12,234 per student, which is less than higher-performing Maude Saunders Elementary ($17,391) but more than Freeport Elementary ($13,180), indicating that spending alone doesn't guarantee results. The school's inconsistent performance across grades—with 5th graders excelling while 4th graders struggle—suggests that individual teachers or specific student cohorts can make a difference, but the school lacks a consistent system for academic excellence.