Kate M. Smith Elementary School

Kate M. Smith Elementary School in Chipley, FL, serves 933 students in grades K-5 within the Washington County School District, a mid-sized school in a rural area that has recently seen its state rating drop from a consistent 3-star to a 2-star level.

One of the most striking findings is that Kate M. Smith has a much lower rate of economic disadvantage (41.69% of students receiving free or reduced lunch) compared to nearby schools like Vernon Elementary School (65.54%) and Bonifay K-8 School (68.57%). Typically, lower poverty levels are linked to higher test scores, but that isn't the case here. Despite this advantage, Kate M. Smith's performance is often on par with or behind these higher-poverty schools. For example, in 5th-grade science, Kate M. Smith scored 45%, while Cottondale Elementary School scored 49%. The school also spends less per student ($9,439) than its peers, including Vernon ($11,244) and Cottondale ($10,273), which may contribute to its challenges.

The most critical issue is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 43.1%, which has persisted for three years and is far above the state average of 31.4%. This likely explains a troubling pattern: 3rd graders perform well, especially in math (73% vs. state average of 66%), but by 5th grade, proficiency drops sharply to 39% in math and 46% in ELA. This "5th-grade cliff" suggests that while early instruction is strong, chronic absences in later grades undermine student progress. Improving attendance is the single most important step the school can take to reverse its recent decline and regain its former 3-star rating.