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James Tillman Elementary Magnet School

Q: Is James Tillman Elementary Magnet School a good school?

James Tillman Elementary Magnet School ranks 1039 th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades PK, KG-5

1039^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,258 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 54% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

James Tillman Elementary Magnet School is a public elementary school in Palmetto, Florida, serving 575 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Manatee School District, which is ranked 41 out of 67 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While the school's magnet status and relatively high spending per student suggest a focus on providing additional resources, the data indicates that these efforts have not yet translated into significantly better outcomes for the students. The school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.0% to 32.6%, which are significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, the school's performance on standardized tests is generally below the district and state averages, with only 44% of 5th-grade students proficient or better in Statewide Science/Science, compared to 52% for the Manatee district and 55% for the state of Florida.

When comparing James Tillman Elementary Magnet School to nearby schools in the same district, some interesting patterns emerge. Nearby schools, such as G.D. Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary and Ballard Elementary School, also have high chronic absenteeism rates and low test scores, suggesting broader challenges within the district. However, some schools, like Palmetto Charter School and Louise R. Johnson K-8 School of International Studies, perform significantly better on standardized tests, indicating that high-performing schools are possible within the same district.

614

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,269

Per pupil spending ?

73.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1415 29th St E
Palmetto, FL 34221

(941) 723-4833

District: Manatee

Students who attend James Tillman Elementary Magnet School usually attend:

Middle:	Buffalo Creek Middle School
High:	Palmetto High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

45.0%

African American:

27.9%

White:

18.7%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare James Tillman Elementary Magnet School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 25th percentile in 2014 → 54th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2014

✓Above the Florida median (54th percentile)

Worth a look

!Science scores 11 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school58%

District avg56%

Florida avg58%

1,039^th of 2,258

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 46%▲ up 52 pts since 2016

From bottom 2% (2016) to top 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

18^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	53.1	1039 of 2258	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.5	1081 of 2256	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.2	1093 of 2240	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.2	1069 of 2219	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.8	1271 of 2247	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.8	1547 of 2182	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.4	1509 of 2118	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.7	1843 of 2112	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	5.1	2044 of 2087	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	28.1	1552 of 2064	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	27.2	1559 of 2029	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	24.5	1572 of 1984	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	15.9	1773 of 1985	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.9	1661 of 1919	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	17.6	1617 of 1847	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	18.9	1531 of 1789	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	7.6	1706 of 1786	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	17.5	1448 of 1688	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2024-2025) ?

Math72%+11 vs state

English Language Arts50%-7 vs state

Science44%-11 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, February 25, 2016

When my family first moved to Palmetto I really loved the school. The principle was always into everything. last year that all changed and the school started going down hill. Teachers are great I think if we had another all in principal, everything would be great. Close Quote

Schools Near James Tillman Elementary Magnet 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 Geometry (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 Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
James Tillman Elementary Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1415 29th St E	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	Yes	No	Yes	(941) 723-4833	614	37	16.5	73.1%	115 (18.7%)	171 (27.9%)	276 (45.0%)	10 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (6.5%)	53.1	1039^th of 2258 public elementary schools	54.0%		50.5	1081^st of 2256 public elementary schools	52.1%	42	54.0	52.0	44.0				73.0	75.0	69.0				44.0					$12,269	$1,765	$10,505
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
Blackburn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3904 17th St E	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 723-4800	452	34	13.4	79.6%	91 (20.1%)	120 (26.5%)	212 (46.9%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.9%)	16.2	2006^th of 2258 public elementary schools	11.2%		25.5	1753^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	22.3%	253	39.0	21.0	37.0				44.0	40.0	31.0	93.0			37.0					$16,274	$2,005	$14,269
Palm View K-8 School	Public	PK, KG-8	6025 Bayshore Rd	Palmetto	34221	Manatee County	Manatee	No	No	No	Yes	(941) 723-4812	606	44	13.7	75.1%	152 (25.1%)	116 (19.1%)	301 (49.7%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.4%)	21.4	1863^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	17.5%		30.3	1609^th of 2256 public elementary schools	28.7%	254	42.0	36.0	31.0	44.0	40.0	47.0	45.0	40.0	49.0	62.0	45.0	70.0	23.0	34.0	83.0		71.0	$15,587	$1,906	$13,681
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
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
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
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
Louise R Johnson K-8 School Of International Studies	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	2121 26th Ave E	Bradenton	34208	Manatee County	Manatee	No	Yes	No	No	(941) 741-3344	844	57	14.8	69.3%	224 (26.5%)	175 (20.7%)	377 (44.7%)	24 (2.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.1%)	63.7	787^th of 2258 public elementary schools	65.1%		70.6	626^th of 2256 public elementary schools	72.3%	161	60.0	58.0	57.0	72.0	65.0	75.0	72.0	70.0	55.0	84.0	52.0	79.0	48.0	72.0	92.0	100.0	86.0	$12,891	$779	$12,112

Frequently Asked Questions about James Tillman Elementary Magnet School

What is the racial makeup of James Tillman Elementary Magnet School?

Students at James Tillman Elementary Magnet School are 45% Hispanic, 28% African American, 19% White, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend James Tillman Elementary Magnet School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 614 students attended James Tillman Elementary Magnet School.

What schools do graduates of James Tillman Elementary Magnet School attend?

Students who attend James Tillman Elementary Magnet School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Buffalo Creek Middle School
High : Palmetto High School

What district is James Tillman Elementary Magnet School in?

Manatee

Is James Tillman Elementary Magnet School a good school?

James Tillman Elementary Magnet School ranks 1039^th of 2258 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate James Tillman Elementary Magnet 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.