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Mary Esther Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1742^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 22% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Mary Esther Elementary School is a mid-sized school in Mary Esther, FL, serving 438 students in grades PK-5 within the high-performing Okaloosa district, though it serves a community with significant economic need, as 73% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

This school is at a critical juncture. After years of solid performance, Mary Esther has experienced a sharp academic decline, dropping from the 59th percentile statewide in 2022-2023 to the 22nd percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 1-star rating. The most alarming sign is a dramatic drop in 3rd-grade reading proficiency—only 33% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, far below the district average of 62%. This is a pivotal year when children shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn," making this a key area of concern. Chronic absenteeism has also been a persistent challenge, peaking at 26% in 2022-2023, though it improved to 20% in 2023-2024. On a positive note, math scores are a relative strength, with 3rd and 4th graders scoring closer to district averages, and 5th-grade science proficiency has been stable and competitive with state averages.

The contrast with nearby Florosa Elementary School is striking—both are in the same city and district, yet Florosa is a 4-star school (81st percentile) that outperforms Mary Esther in every subject by 20-30 percentage points, despite having a lower poverty rate (56% vs. 73%). Additionally, the nearby charter school Liza Jackson Preparatory School (93rd percentile) likely draws motivated families away. Notably, Mary Esther spends $11,053 per student—more than top-performing peers like Destin Elementary ($9,519) and Liza Jackson ($8,182)—suggesting the challenges are not about underfunding but about how resources are used. The school's immediate priority must be targeted intervention in early literacy and reducing absenteeism, with Florosa providing a clear local model for what's possible.

438

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,053

Per pupil spending ?

73.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy
Mary Esther, FL 32569

(850) 833-3371

District: Okaloosa

Students who attend Mary Esther Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Max Bruner Junior Middle School
High:	Fort Walton Beach High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

37.7%

Hispanic:

27.4%

African American:

20.3%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 75th percentile in 2016 → 22nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (49% vs 62% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (22nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 53 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg67%

Florida avg62%

1,742^nd of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 53 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to bottom 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

19^th of 20Elementary Schools in the Okaloosa

12^th of 70Okaloosa 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
2026	27.1	1742 of 2240	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	48.8	1139 of 2258	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.2	1016 of 2256	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.7	924 of 2240	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	1228 of 2219	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.2	1156 of 2247	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.8	945 of 2182	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.6	848 of 2118	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.7	664 of 2112	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	73.6	525 of 2087	74.8%	★★★★☆
2014	57.1	885 of 2064	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	52.8	945 of 2029	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.9	741 of 1984	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.5	663 of 1985	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	69.5	592 of 1919	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.4	549 of 1847	70.3%	★★★★☆
2008	75.2	406 of 1789	77.3%	★★★★☆
2007	70.7	521 of 1786	70.8%	★★★★☆
2006	71.9	480 of 1688	71.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math57%-7 vs state

Science49%-11 vs state

English Language Arts41%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mary Esther Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)						FAST Math (2026)						Statewide Science Science (2026)		EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Mary Esther Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy	Mary Esther	32569	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3371	438	26	16.8	73.3%	165 (37.7%)	89 (20.3%)	120 (27.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	59 (13.5%)	27.1	1742^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	22.2%		48.8	1139^th of 2258 public elementary schools	49.6%	603	33.0	44.0	47.0				59.0	62.0	47.0				49.0					$11,053	$872	$10,181
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7 Wright Pkwy SW	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3333	490	29	16.8	76.9%	197 (40.2%)	80 (16.3%)	149 (30.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (12.2%)	47.7	1204^th of 2240 public elementary schools	46.3%		39.4	1376^th of 2258 public elementary schools	39.1%	172	60.0	55.0	59.0				75.0	68.0	54.0				43.0					$13,181	$1,420	$11,760
Wright Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 Lang Rd	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3580	609	36	16.9	80.6%	134 (22.0%)	79 (13.0%)	323 (53.0%)	9 (1.5%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	59 (9.7%)	29	1691^st of 2240 public elementary schools	24.5%		19.4	1933^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	14.4%	242	33.0	52.0	49.0				43.0	70.0	52.0				52.0					$11,387	$963	$10,425
Liza Jackson Preparatory School	Public, Charter	K-8	1123 Hospital Rd	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 833-3321	977	60	16.2	21.8%	664 (68.0%)	73 (7.5%)	125 (12.8%)	32 (3.3%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	77 (7.9%)	89.1	152^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	93.2%		90	168^th of 2258 public elementary schools	92.6%	16	90.0	78.0	78.0	88.0	90.0	84.0	92.0	78.0	87.0	83.0	91.0	75.0	81.0	78.0	91.0	100.0	95.0	$8,182	$86	$8,096
Elliott Point Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Hughes St NE	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3355	583	34	17.1	74.6%	263 (45.1%)	84 (14.4%)	159 (27.3%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	68 (11.7%)	38.9	1434^th of 2240 public elementary schools	36.0%		37.3	1437^th of 2258 public elementary schools	36.4%	3	51.0	55.0	58.0				61.0	57.0	53.0				53.0					$11,650	$1,118	$10,533
Florosa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 W Highway 98	Mary Esther	32569	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4381	539	31	17.3	56.4%	251 (46.6%)	68 (12.6%)	137 (25.4%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	72 (13.4%)	78.5	418^th of 2240 public elementary schools	81.3%		78.6	437^th of 2258 public elementary schools	80.6%	19	78.0	73.0	70.0				85.0	81.0	63.0				70.0					$10,973	$1,020	$9,954
Kenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	15 Eagle St NE	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3570	471	34	13.8	67.1%	227 (48.2%)	52 (11.0%)	114 (24.2%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	70 (14.9%)	29.7	1674^th of 2240 public elementary schools	25.3%		38.7	1397^th of 2258 public elementary schools	38.1%	277	43.0	50.0	59.0				43.0	50.0	51.0				56.0					$13,844	$1,235	$12,610
Longwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Holly Ave	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4329	555	34	16.3	76.6%	133 (24.0%)	65 (11.7%)	291 (52.4%)	13 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	49 (8.8%)	10.7	2131^st of 2240 public elementary schools	4.9%		9.8	2154^th of 2258 public elementary schools	4.6%	23	31.0	42.0	36.0				49.0	38.0	34.0				36.0					$11,639	$996	$10,644
Shalimar Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 Joe Martin Cir	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4339	557	32	17.4	68.8%	288 (51.7%)	52 (9.3%)	140 (25.1%)	12 (2.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (11.3%)	41.4	1363^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	39.2%		43.8	1249^th of 2258 public elementary schools	44.7%	114	41.0	44.0	70.0				66.0	51.0	63.0				59.0					$10,507	$809	$9,699
Eglin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	200 Gaffney Rd	Eglin Afb	32542	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 833-4320	436	25	17.4	31.9%	187 (42.9%)	61 (14.0%)	107 (24.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	77 (17.7%)	67.5	697^th of 2240 public elementary schools	68.9%		68.9	667^th of 2258 public elementary schools	70.5%	30	69.0	62.0	68.0				67.0	80.0	70.0				64.0					$10,203	$338	$9,865

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Esther Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Mary Esther Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mary Esther Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Max Bruner Junior Middle School
High : Fort Walton Beach High School

What is the racial makeup of Mary Esther Elementary School?

Students at Mary Esther Elementary School are 38% White, 27% Hispanic, 20% African American, 13% Two or more races.

Is Mary Esther Elementary School a good school?

Mary Esther Elementary School ranks in the bottom 22.2% of Florida elementary schools.

How many students attend Mary Esther Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 438 students attended Mary Esther Elementary School.

What district is Mary Esther Elementary School in?

Okaloosa

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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.