Summary
James A. Long Elementary School in Palatka, FL, is a K-6 public school serving 565 students within the Putnam County School District, a district ranked 62nd out of 70 in Florida. The school faces significant challenges, most notably a crisis-level chronic absenteeism rate of 56.6% in 2023-2024, which is nearly double the state average and the highest among its local peers. This issue is a primary driver of the school's low academic performance, though there are some bright spots, such as exceptional 6th-grade English Language Arts (ELA) scores, where 75% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, outperforming both the district and state averages.
Despite these struggles, James A. Long shows pockets of excellence. The 5th-grade science scores have improved dramatically, rising from 36% proficiency in 2023-2024 to 58% in 2025-2026, consistently beating the district average. However, math remains a persistent weakness, especially in 5th grade, where only 25% of students were proficient in 2025-2026, a sharp drop from the previous year. The school also experiences a "3rd-grade slump," with 3rd graders consistently scoring the lowest in both ELA and math across all grade levels, indicating a need for early intervention.
The contrast with nearby The Children's Reading Center, just 3.36 miles away, is stark. That school ranks in the 81st percentile (4 stars) and has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 26.7%, compared to James A. Long's 56.6%. For example, in 3rd-grade math, The Children's Reading Center achieved 78% proficiency versus James A. Long's 38%. While socioeconomic factors play a role, the difference in school culture and engagement, as reflected in attendance, is a powerful correlating factor. James A. Long spends $10,661 per student, slightly more than The Children's Reading Center, suggesting that spending alone is not the primary driver of performance.
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