Eisenhower Elementary School

Eisenhower Elementary School in Clearwater, FL, serves 678 students in grades PK-5 within the Pinellas district, a highly-rated district that ranks in the top 15 in Florida, though the school itself has historically earned a 2-star rating and faces significant challenges related to high poverty, with over 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

The most pressing issue at Eisenhower is its chronic absenteeism rate of 36.4%, which is dramatically higher than nearby schools like Safety Harbor Elementary (13.5%) and Leila Davis Elementary (18.7%). This absenteeism likely contributes to the school's persistent underperformance in English Language Arts (ELA), where proficiency rates (57% in 3rd grade, 49% in 4th, and 58% in 5th) lag far behind district averages and high-performing neighbors like Plato Academy Clearwater and Discovery Academy of Science. Interestingly, Eisenhower spends more per student ($13,506) than several higher-performing area schools, suggesting that funding alone is not the solution.

On a positive note, Eisenhower shows a notable strength in mathematics, with proficiency rates (60%, 68%, 66%) that are much closer to state averages and sometimes exceed them, indicating effective math instruction. The school's state ranking has also improved over the last three years, moving from the 36th to the 45th percentile, though it remains in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools. This progress is fragile, and the school continues to face stiff competition from charter schools like Athenian Academy and Plumb Elementary, which have lower poverty rates and higher test scores. For parents, Eisenhower offers a dedicated math program and signs of improvement, but the high absenteeism and ELA struggles are critical factors to consider.