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Wards Creek Elementary School

Q: Is Wards Creek Elementary School a good school?

Wards Creek Elementary School ranks 312 th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

312^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,240 Florida Elementary Schools

Better than 86% of Florida elementary schools

Summary

Wards Creek Elementary School in St. Augustine, FL, is a large PK-5 school serving 1,156 students within the highly-rated St. Johns County School District, which is ranked 4th in Florida.

Wards Creek is a strong school that consistently earns a 4-star rating, but it sits in a neighborhood of exceptional schools. For example, nearby Patriot Oaks Academy and Palencia Elementary School both hold 5-star ratings and rank higher academically. This means Wards Creek is an excellent choice, but it may not be the absolute highest-performing option in the immediate area. The school also serves a more economically diverse population than many of its neighbors, with a free/reduced lunch rate of 21.45%, compared to just 8.49% at Patriot Oaks Academy. One area of focus is chronic absenteeism, which at 17% is higher than at nearby schools like Palencia (9.7%) and Patriot Oaks (6.8%).

An interesting pattern in the school's test scores is a "3rd Grade Bump" followed by a "4th Grade Slump." Third graders consistently perform very well, often exceeding the district average in both English and Math. However, the same students show a significant drop in proficiency when they reach 4th grade. For instance, in 2025-2026, 3rd Grade ELA was at 81% (above the district's 78%), but 4th Grade ELA dropped to 71% (below the district's 74%). This consistent pattern suggests a potential challenge in the 4th-grade curriculum that parents may want to discuss with teachers. Despite a slight decline in its state ranking over the years, the school's actual test scores have been improving, indicating that while Wards Creek is getting better, other schools are improving even faster.

1,156

Students ?

15.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,335

Per pupil spending ?

21.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6555 State Road 16
St Augustine, FL 32092

(904) 547-8730

District: St. Johns

Students who attend Wards Creek Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Pacetti Bay Middle School
High:	Tocoi Creek High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.7%

Asian:

17.6%

Hispanic:

16.3%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Wards Creek Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 94th percentile in 2016 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Florida average (77% vs 62% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Florida elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 8 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school77%

District avg76%

Florida avg62%

312^th of 2,240

Florida public elementary schools ?

Top 14%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 6% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 28Elementary Schools in the St. Johns

4^th of 70St. Johns 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	82.9	312 of 2240	86.1%	★★★★☆
2025	80.3	401 of 2258	82.2%	★★★★☆
2024	80.5	393 of 2256	82.6%	★★★★☆
2023	82.6	353 of 2240	84.2%	★★★★☆
2022	83.6	328 of 2219	85.2%	★★★★☆
2021	87.7	246 of 2247	89.1%	★★★★☆
2019	89.0	185 of 2182	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	86.4	242 of 2118	88.6%	★★★★☆
2017	83.3	308 of 2112	85.4%	★★★★☆
2016	91.0	134 of 2087	93.6%	★★★★★
2014	85.1	255 of 2064	87.6%	★★★★☆
2013	87.1	202 of 2029	90.0%	★★★★★
2012	91.8	101 of 1984	94.9%	★★★★★
2011	88.7	135 of 1985	93.2%	★★★★★
2010	89.5	111 of 1919	94.2%	★★★★★

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Math80%+15 vs state

English Language Arts77%+17 vs state

Science69%+9 vs state

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Wards Creek Elementary School

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 Biology 1 (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 Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wards Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6555 State Road 16	St Augustine	32092	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-8730	1,156	74	15.6	21.5%	632 (54.7%)	40 (3.5%)	188 (16.3%)	204 (17.6%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	87 (7.5%)	82.9	312^th of 2240 public elementary schools	86.1%		80.3	401^st of 2258 public elementary schools	82.2%	89	81.0	71.0	80.0				84.0	77.0	79.0				69.0						$9,335	$130	$9,205
Mill Creek Academy	Public	K-8	3750 International Golf Pkwy	St Augustine	32092	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-3720	1,983	111	17.8	23.0%	1,262 (63.6%)	115 (5.8%)	330 (16.6%)	77 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	197 (9.9%)	72	579^th of 2240 public elementary schools	74.2%		78.8	435^th of 2258 public elementary schools	80.7%	144	72.0	66.0	71.0	68.0	76.0	69.0	77.0	74.0	77.0	73.0	67.0	85.0	68.0	69.0	98.0	100.0		90.0	$8,332	$150	$8,182
Picolata Crossing Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2675 Pacetti Rd	St Augustine	32092	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4160	1,048	66	15.8	24.9%	670 (63.9%)	36 (3.4%)	210 (20.0%)	26 (2.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	104 (9.9%)	74.3	521^st of 2240 public elementary schools	76.7%		73.5	541^st of 2258 public elementary schools	76.0%	20	73.0	72.0	72.0				77.0	73.0	70.0				65.0						$9,106	$205	$8,900
Trout Creek Academy	Public	K-8	855 Timberwolf Trail	Saint Augustine	32092	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	(n/a)	(904) 547-7500	1,156	71	16.2	11.9%	755 (65.3%)	47 (4.1%)	193 (16.7%)	78 (6.7%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	79 (6.8%)	83.5	298^th of 2240 public elementary schools	86.7%					(n/a)	80.0	74.0	77.0	82.0	79.0	84.0	81.0	81.0	77.0	82.0	59.0	83.0	73.0	80.0	96.0	100.0		97.0	$8,967	$170	$8,798
Timberlin Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	555 Pine Tree Ln	St Augustine	32092	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-7400	634	44	14.4	14.5%	413 (65.1%)	18 (2.8%)	93 (14.7%)	42 (6.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (10.6%)	88.1	183^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	91.8%		90.7	147^th of 2258 public elementary schools	93.5%	36	79.0	76.0	82.0				88.0	82.0	80.0				79.0						$11,651	$290	$11,362
Lakeside Academy	Public	K-8	1455 Twin Creeks Dr	St Augustine	32095	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(904) 547-7500	1,356	81	16.8	17.6%	749 (55.2%)	58 (4.3%)	263 (19.4%)	175 (12.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	108 (8.0%)	69.7	640^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.4%					(n/a)	69.0	67.0	76.0	79.0	83.0	81.0	68.0	67.0	65.0	86.0	78.0	84.0	63.0	80.0	100.0	100.0		96.0	$8,533	$143	$8,390
Liberty Pines Academy	Public	K-8	10901 Russell Sampson Rd	Saint Johns	32259	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-7900	1,795	98	18.3	18.1%	1,084 (60.4%)	63 (3.5%)	294 (16.4%)	207 (11.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	145 (8.1%)	80.2	384^th of 2240 public elementary schools	82.9%		82.9	342^nd of 2258 public elementary schools	84.9%	42	82.0	70.0	74.0	77.0	69.0	81.0	80.0	72.0	83.0	81.0	75.0	84.0	71.0	83.0	95.0	100.0	100.0	97.0	$8,029	$111	$7,918
Patriot Oaks Academy	Public	K-8	475 Longleaf Pine Pkwy	Saint Johns	32259	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4050	1,473	85	17.3	8.5%	891 (60.5%)	43 (2.9%)	170 (11.5%)	275 (18.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	90 (6.1%)	91.2	108^th of 2240 public elementary schools	95.2%		89.9	170^th of 2258 public elementary schools	92.5%	62	86.0	84.0	79.0	85.0	80.0	91.0	89.0	82.0	93.0	94.0	67.0	92.0	82.0	84.0	99.0	100.0		98.0	$9,411	$367	$9,044
Palencia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	355 Palencia Village Dr	St Augustine	32095	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4010	703	47	14.9	18.6%	498 (70.8%)	21 (3.0%)	107 (15.2%)	29 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (6.8%)	88.9	157^th of 2240 public elementary schools	93.0%		83.4	325^th of 2258 public elementary schools	85.6%	168	86.0	82.0	71.0				89.0	91.0	82.0				76.0						$10,084	$252	$9,831
Freedom Crossing Academy	Public	K-8	1365 Shetland Dr	Saint Johns	32259	St. Johns County	St. Johns	No	No	No	No	(904) 547-4231	1,964	111	17.7	15.4%	1,230 (62.6%)	81 (4.1%)	330 (16.8%)	165 (8.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	154 (7.8%)	85.7	244^th of 2240 public elementary schools	89.1%		83.7	320^th of 2258 public elementary schools	85.8%	76	87.0	84.0	76.0	76.0	83.0	83.0	87.0	87.0	81.0	86.0	57.0	94.0	67.0	82.0	100.0			97.0	$8,124	$153	$7,971

Frequently Asked Questions about Wards Creek Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Wards Creek Elementary School?

Students at Wards Creek Elementary School are 55% White, 18% Asian, 16% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% African American.

What district is Wards Creek Elementary School in?

St. Johns

What schools do graduates of Wards Creek Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Wards Creek Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pacetti Bay Middle School
High : Tocoi Creek High School

How many students attend Wards Creek Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,156 students attended Wards Creek Elementary School.

Is Wards Creek Elementary School a good school?

Wards Creek Elementary School ranks 312^th of 2240 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Wards Creek Elementary 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.