Medart Elementary School

Medart Elementary School in Crawfordville, FL, is a public school serving 417 students in grades PK-5 within the Wakulla County School District, and it has recently emerged as a standout for its rapid academic improvement.

Medart has transformed from a 2-star to a 4-star school over the last five years, climbing from the 39th to the 71st percentile in state rankings. This growth is especially notable in English Language Arts (ELA) and math. In 4th grade ELA, Medart scored 70% proficient—8 points higher than the district average and 15 points higher than nearby Crawfordville Elementary School. In math, the school saw dramatic gains, with 3rd grade proficiency jumping 25 points to 71% and 4th grade proficiency rising 21 points to 73%, now 4 points above the district average. While Shadeville Elementary School remains the top-performing school in the district (78th percentile), Medart is the "rising star" and is on track to challenge for the top spot if it maintains its trajectory.

However, Medart faces a significant challenge: a chronic absenteeism rate of 45.5% in 2023-2024, more than double that of Riversink Elementary School (22.1%) and far above the district average (36.3%). This is unusual because high absenteeism typically correlates with lower test scores, yet Medart is defying that trend, suggesting that the students who attend regularly are receiving exceptionally effective instruction. The school’s per-student spending ($10,155) is higher than other Wakulla elementary schools, but not as high as Woodville School in the Leon County district ($14,215), which is lower-performing. This indicates Medart’s success is driven by effective strategies and leadership, not just funding.