Summary:
This analysis examines seven elementary schools in the 32073 zip code of Orange Park, Florida, all part of the Clay County School District, serving grades from PK to 6 with enrollments ranging from 402 to 726 students.
The standout school in this area is Orange Park Elementary School, which consistently ranks in the top 1-2% of Florida elementary schools with a 5-star rating and test scores in the 90th percentile or higher. It achieves these results while spending the least per student ($9,608) and having the highest student-teacher ratio (15.2:1), suggesting exceptional efficiency and strong community support. At the other end, Grove Park Elementary School struggles with a 1-star rating, test scores well below district and state averages, and the highest chronic absenteeism rate (37.2%). W E Cherry Elementary School offers a stable middle-ground option with a consistent 3-star rating, the highest per-student spending ($14,600), and the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.2:1).
A key finding is the "6th Grade Bounce," where 6th graders across nearly all schools significantly outperform lower grades in math—for example, Lakeside Elementary School sees 6th grade math proficiency at 91% versus 63-66% in 3rd-5th grades, and Montclair Elementary School jumps from 23% in 4th grade to 76% in 6th grade. Chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with performance, with rates ranging from 7.9% at Orange Park to 37.2% at Grove Park. The average free/reduced lunch rate across schools is 65.2%, and per-student spending averages $11,955, though spending does not guarantee results—Orange Park outperforms despite lower investment.
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