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Ballard Elementary School

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

1926^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Ballard Elementary School is a public magnet elementary school in Bradenton, Florida, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 417 students. The school is part of the Manatee School District, which is ranked 41 out of 67 districts in Florida and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ballard Elementary School faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 29.0% to 31.4% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages. The school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is also consistently lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math were 28-41% and 29-52%, respectively, compared to the district's 52-54% and 57-62% proficiency rates. Additionally, Ballard Elementary School has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 77.66% to 82.5% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

When comparing Ballard Elementary School to nearby schools in the Manatee School District, it becomes evident that the school is performing significantly worse academically. For instance, Palmetto Charter School and William Monroe Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication, both within a 2.5-mile radius, have significantly higher test scores and overall performance compared to Ballard. Addressing the issues of chronic absenteeism, academic performance, and socioeconomic factors through targeted interventions and resource allocation could be crucial in improving the school's outcomes and providing a better educational experience for its students.

421

Students ?

14.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,311

Per pupil spending ?

76.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

912 18th St W
Bradenton, FL 34205

(941) 708-8400

District: Manatee

Students who attend Ballard Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Martha B. King Middle School
High:	Manatee High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

47.3%

African American:

25.4%

White:

17.8%

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Compare Ballard Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 23rd percentile in 2014 → 15th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (39% vs 58% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg56%

Florida avg58%

1,926^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

36^th of 42Elementary Schools in the Manatee

41^st of 67Manatee 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	19.5	1926 of 2258	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.8	1774 of 2256	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.9	1937 of 2240	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.5	1713 of 2219	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.8	1579 of 2247	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.5	1854 of 2182	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.1	1995 of 2118	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	8.4	2029 of 2112	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	16.7	1821 of 2087	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	26.2	1594 of 2064	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	26.6	1583 of 2029	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	18.8	1686 of 1984	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	21.7	1664 of 1985	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	18.4	1657 of 1919	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	17.8	1610 of 1847	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	27.8	1373 of 1789	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	34.6	1228 of 1786	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	28.7	1240 of 1688	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math44%-17 vs state

Science36%-19 vs state

English Language Arts36%-21 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, July 14, 2019

Best thing I could have done was enroll my son into Ballard Elementary he has excelled tremendously academic and behavior wise and 4th grade here he comes teachers and staff you guys rock Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Ballard Elementary teachers are some of the most kind, caring, and hardworking teachers I have ever met. They truly care for the students and their success. My child could not have gotten a better education than they did at Ballard. It has a small school, neighborhood atmosphere where everyone is out to succeed. Close Quote

Schools Near Ballard 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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ballard Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	912 18th St W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(941) 708-8400	421	30	14.0	76.2%	75 (17.8%)	107 (25.4%)	199 (47.3%)	11 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.7%)	19.5	1926^th of 2258 public elementary schools	14.7%		24.8	1774^th of 2256 public elementary schools	21.4%	152	28.0	39.0	41.0				45.0	29.0	52.0				36.0				$15,311	$2,047	$13,265
G D Rogers Garden- Bullock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	515 13th Ave W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 209-7540	472	38	12.4	75.0%	37 (7.8%)	143 (30.3%)	270 (57.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	6.1	2207^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.3%		9.9	2155^th of 2256 public elementary schools	4.5%	52	11.0	22.0	23.0				32.0	42.0	33.0				23.0				$17,755	$2,303	$15,453
Jessie P. Miller Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	601 43rd St W	Bradenton	34209	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	No	(941) 741-3300	586	43	13.6	69.6%	253 (43.2%)	54 (9.2%)	225 (38.4%)	9 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	43 (7.3%)	34.7	1505^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.3%		46.4	1188^th of 2256 public elementary schools	47.3%	317	39.0	47.0	50.0				50.0	55.0	53.0	100.0			47.0				$14,572	$1,764	$12,809
Robert H. Prine Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3801 Southern Pkwy W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 751-7006	721	51	14.1	74.6%	134 (18.6%)	124 (17.2%)	426 (59.1%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.6%)	19.4	1929^th of 2258 public elementary schools	14.6%		22.6	1834^th of 2256 public elementary schools	18.7%	95	34.0	43.0	38.0				46.0	53.0	30.0	95.0			33.0				$13,706	$1,820	$11,887
Manatee School Of Arts/Sciences	Public, Charter	K-5	3700 32nd St W	Bradenton	34205	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	Yes	(941) 755-5012	111	8	13.8	72.1%	48 (43.2%)	11 (9.9%)	43 (38.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (8.1%)	20.3	1899^th of 2258 public elementary schools	15.9%		20.1	1897^th of 2256 public elementary schools	15.9%	2	48.0	67.0	13.0				41.0	42.0	13.0				31.0				$10,389	$415	$9,974
William Monroe Rowlett Academy For Arts And Communication	Public, Magnet, Charter	K-5	3500 9th St E	Bradenton	34208	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	Yes	No	No	(941) 708-6100	917	60	15.2	47.4%	472 (51.5%)	82 (8.9%)	304 (33.2%)	7 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	50 (5.5%)	54.9	991^st of 2258 public elementary schools	56.1%		68	682^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	69.8%	309	55.0	60.0	59.0				56.0	72.0	58.0				50.0				$10,831	$400	$10,432
Palmetto Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1540 10th St W	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 723-4822	519	37	14.0	75.3%	92 (17.7%)	60 (11.6%)	336 (64.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.8%)	39.6	1372^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	39.2%		30.2	1617^th of 2256 public elementary schools	28.3%	245	32.0	62.0	40.0				54.0	78.0	64.0				39.0				$15,274	$2,378	$12,896
Manatee Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1609 6th Ave E	Bradenton	34208	Manatee County	Manatee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(941) 741-3319	488	33	14.7	85.5%	15 (3.1%)	158 (32.4%)	298 (61.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.9%)	9.2	2164^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.2%		11.1	2124^th of 2256 public elementary schools	5.9%	40	28.0	24.0	25.0				46.0	37.0	36.0				17.0				$14,542	$1,947	$12,596
Palmetto Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	1607 17th St W	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	No	No	No	(941) 723-3711	458	34	13.4	33.6%	323 (70.5%)	33 (7.2%)	78 (17.0%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.4%)	89.1	192^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	91.5%		92.7	93^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	95.9%	99	85.0	65.0	77.0	80.0	78.0	84.0	96.0	77.0	86.0	95.0	93.0	86.0	95.0	72.0	97.0	95.0	$11,359	$254	$11,106
Hola! Elementary @ Msa	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	700 Haben Blvd	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(941) 708-8770	551	36	15.3	29.0%	124 (22.5%)	54 (9.8%)	347 (63.0%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.8%)	30.1	1643^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	27.2%					(n/a)	53.0	44.0	41.0				53.0	58.0	43.0				30.0				$10,222	$00	$10,222

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Ballard Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Ballard Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Martha B. King Middle School
High : Manatee High School

What district is Ballard Elementary School in?

Manatee

Is Ballard Elementary School a good school?

Ballard Elementary School ranks in the bottom 14.7% of Florida elementary schools.

How many students attend Ballard Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 421 students attended Ballard Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Ballard Elementary School?

Students at Ballard Elementary School are 47% Hispanic, 25% African American, 18% White, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

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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.