Summary:
Zip code 32033, encompassing the Elkton area of Florida, is home to a single school: South Woods Elementary School, a public school serving Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade with 700 students.
South Woods Elementary presents a notable contrast within the highly acclaimed St. Johns County School District, which is ranked 4th out of 70 districts in Florida and holds a 5-star rating. While the district excels, South Woods consistently scores below district averages in every subject and grade level. For example, in Math proficiency, the school ranges from 49% to 55%, while the district averages 77-79%. The school's state ranking places it in the bottom half of Florida elementary schools (36th percentile). Key metrics include a student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1, spending of $13,076 per student, a high free/reduced lunch rate of 71%, and a chronic absenteeism rate of 34.1%—significantly higher than the district's 20.1%.
The most significant takeaway is the "high-performing district paradox": South Woods struggles despite being in a top-tier district, likely due to local socioeconomic factors. The high poverty rate and chronic absenteeism are well-documented barriers to achievement. However, there are mixed trends; for instance, 5th-grade Math proficiency in 2024-2025 (60%) exceeded the state average (57%) and showed improvement over the 2025-2026 score (49%). The school's substantial per-student spending and reasonable class sizes suggest the challenge is not a lack of resources, but rather effectively deploying them to address the specific needs of a high-poverty student body, such as targeted academic support and absenteeism interventions.
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