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Bennett C Russell Elementary School

Q: Is Bennett C Russell Elementary School a good school?

Bennett C Russell Elementary School ranks 1441 st of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1441^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 36% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Bennett C Russell Elementary School in Milton, FL, serves 899 students in grades PK through 5 and is part of the Santa Rosa County School District, a district ranked in the 69th percentile statewide.

This school has experienced a notable decline in recent years. Once a solid performer with a 3-4 star rating before the pandemic, it has dropped to a 2-star rating and now ranks in the 36th percentile, a steep fall from the 63rd percentile just three years ago. The most concerning trend is a significant drop in 5th-grade performance. While 3rd and 4th graders score near or above state averages in English and math, 5th graders lag far behind—only 44% are proficient in English (20 points below the district average) and 47% in math (18 points below). Science scores are also low at 38% proficiency. This "5th-grade wall" is unique among nearby schools; for example, S. S. Dixon Intermediate School (6.2 miles away) shows consistent or improving scores across grades 3-5, and Berryhill Elementary School (5.39 miles away) has a much smaller decline. Chronic absenteeism is also a persistent issue, with a rate of 20.5% in 2023-2024, higher than S. S. Dixon's 12.4% and Berryhill's 18.9%.

Interestingly, the school spends more per student ($10,545) than these higher-performing peers, suggesting the challenges are not about funding but likely relate to instructional quality or student support systems. While the 4th-grade math score of 72% is a bright spot, it may reflect a strong cohort rather than systemic strength. Nearby Ferry Pass Elementary School in the Escambia district shows strong upward momentum, contrasting with Bennett C Russell's downward trend. The school is at a critical juncture and needs a focused strategy to address the 5th-grade performance gap and reverse its trajectory.

899

Students ?

14.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,545

Per pupil spending ?

60.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3740 Excalibur Way
Milton, FL 32583

(850) 983-7000

District: Santa Rosa

Students who attend Bennett C Russell Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Avalon Middle School
High:	Milton High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.0%

Two or more races:

11.0%

Hispanic:

9.7%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Bennett C Russell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 74th percentile in 2016 → 36th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (55% vs 62% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 38 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 22 pts below the Florida average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school55%

District avg66%

Florida avg62%

1,441^st of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 38 pts since 2016

From top 26% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 15Elementary Schools in the Santa Rosa

22^nd of 70Santa Rosa 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	38.6	1441 of 2240	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.1	1384 of 2258	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.8	998 of 2256	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.8	818 of 2240	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.5	938 of 2219	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.1	791 of 2247	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.1	646 of 2182	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	68.5	648 of 2118	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	66.8	682 of 2112	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	72.9	545 of 2087	73.9%	★★★★☆
2014	71.6	541 of 2064	73.8%	★★★★☆
2013	70.3	569 of 2029	72.0%	★★★★☆
2012	75.1	456 of 1984	77.0%	★★★★☆
2011	73.5	509 of 1985	74.4%	★★★★☆
2010	75.2	432 of 1919	77.5%	★★★★☆
2009	74.2	438 of 1847	76.3%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math59%-5 vs state

English Language Arts56%-5 vs state

Science38%-22 vs state

5.0

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Schools Near Bennett C Russell 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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bennett C Russell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3740 Excalibur Way	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-7000	899	60	14.9	60.3%	647 (72.0%)	57 (6.3%)	87 (9.7%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	99 (11.0%)	38.6	1441^st of 2240 public elementary schools	35.7%		39.1	1384^th of 2258 public elementary schools	38.7%	57	60.0	62.0	44.0	58.0	72.0	47.0	38.0	$10,545	$690	$9,854
Pea Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4775 School Ln	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 995-3680	846	57	14.8	57.8%	550 (65.0%)	58 (6.9%)	95 (11.2%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.6%)	131 (15.5%)	41.6	1357^th of 2240 public elementary schools	39.4%		48.4	1149^th of 2258 public elementary schools	49.1%	208	65.0	52.0	53.0	62.0	59.0	56.0	49.0	$9,920	$737	$9,183
S. S. Dixon Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	4560 Pace Patriot Blvd	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 995-3660	611	41	14.9	51.9%	456 (74.6%)	26 (4.3%)	60 (9.8%)	10 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	57 (9.3%)								(n/a)								$10,817	$742	$10,075
Bagdad Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4512 Forsyth St	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5680	501	33	15.1	69.7%	342 (68.3%)	57 (11.4%)	30 (6.0%)	8 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (12.6%)	26	1762^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	21.3%		30.6	1621^st of 2258 public elementary schools	28.2%	141	54.0	51.0	53.0	62.0	40.0	38.0	36.0	$12,659	$1,501	$11,158
W. H. Rhodes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5563 Byrom St	Milton	32570	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5670	789	52	15.1	83.4%	523 (66.3%)	125 (15.8%)	42 (5.3%)	4 (0.5%)	8 (1.0%)	5 (0.6%)	82 (10.4%)	31.6	1630^th of 2240 public elementary schools	27.2%		37.1	1444^th of 2258 public elementary schools	36.0%	186	52.0	58.0	45.0	57.0	64.0	48.0	38.0	$12,224	$933	$11,291
Berryhill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4900 Berryhill Rd	Milton	32570	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5690	802	52	15.4	53.0%	615 (76.7%)	54 (6.7%)	51 (6.4%)	9 (1.1%)	6 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	65 (8.1%)	57.1	954^th of 2240 public elementary schools	57.4%		61	858^th of 2258 public elementary schools	62.0%	96	69.0	59.0	62.0	82.0	63.0	62.0	53.0	$10,239	$660	$9,580
East Milton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5156 Ward Basin Rd	Milton	32583	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 983-5620	771	51	15.1	72.5%	571 (74.1%)	39 (5.1%)	75 (9.7%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	79 (10.2%)	30.5	1654^th of 2240 public elementary schools	26.2%		33.1	1554^th of 2258 public elementary schools	31.2%	100	54.0	43.0	51.0	61.0	55.0	50.0	44.0	$11,525	$964	$10,561
S. S. Dixon Intermediate School	Public	3-5	5540 Education Dr	Pace	32571	Santa Rosa County	Santa Rosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 995-3650	676	40	16.9	47.3%	514 (76.0%)	24 (3.6%)	64 (9.5%)	15 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	57 (8.4%)	64.4	778^th of 2240 public elementary schools	65.3%		70.2	635^th of 2258 public elementary schools	71.9%	143	66.0	70.0	63.0	77.0	74.0	66.0	54.0	$9,626	$560	$9,066
Scenic Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	3801 Cherry Laurel Dr	Pensacola	32504	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 494-5635	773	45	17.3	42.0%	336 (43.5%)	151 (19.5%)	199 (25.7%)	30 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (7.0%)	59.4	894^th of 2240 public elementary schools	60.1%		45.5	1216^th of 2258 public elementary schools	46.1%	322	64.0	58.0	62.0	69.0	72.0	63.0	64.0	$9,973	$820	$9,152
Ferry Pass Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8310 N Davis Hwy	Pensacola	32514	Escambia County	Escambia	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 494-5605	579	35	16.5	71.7%	175 (30.2%)	273 (47.2%)	54 (9.3%)	10 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	65 (11.2%)	58.4	917^th of 2240 public elementary schools	59.1%		54.5	1004^th of 2258 public elementary schools	55.5%	87	63.0	54.0	76.0	66.0	55.0	70.0	72.0	$11,096	$1,539	$9,558

Frequently Asked Questions about Bennett C Russell Elementary School

Is Bennett C Russell Elementary School a good school?

Bennett C Russell Elementary School ranks 1441^st of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Bennett C Russell Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 899 students attended Bennett C Russell Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Bennett C Russell Elementary School?

Students at Bennett C Russell Elementary School are 72% White, 11% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 6% African American.

What schools do graduates of Bennett C Russell Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Bennett C Russell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Avalon Middle School
High : Milton High School

What district is Bennett C Russell Elementary School in?

Santa Rosa

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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.