Summary:
This analysis examines two exceptional elementary schools in the 32082 zip code of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, both part of the highly-rated St. Johns School District, serving grades PK-5 in an affluent coastal community.
Both Ponte Vedra Palm Valley- Rawlings Elementary School and Ocean Palms Elementary School are academic powerhouses, consistently ranking in the top 3% of all Florida elementary schools. PVPV-Rawlings, the larger school with 940 students, stands out for its stability and efficiency, achieving a 99th percentile state rank for two consecutive years while spending $10,080 per student. In contrast, Ocean Palms, with 386 students, demonstrates strong upward momentum, jumping from the 95th to the 98th percentile in one year, and invests significantly more per student ($14,341) with a lower student-teacher ratio of 12.9. Subject-specific strengths differentiate the two: PVPV-Rawlings is a math powerhouse with 89.7% average proficiency, while Ocean Palms leads in science and ELA, achieving 90% in 5th-grade science and 90.3% average ELA proficiency.
Chronic absenteeism at both schools is remarkably low—8.7% at PVPV-Rawlings and 11.8% at Ocean Palms—compared to the district average of 20.1% and state average of 31.4%, indicating strong family engagement. Free/reduced lunch rates are also very low (12.98% and 9.33% respectively). For families choosing between these two top-tier options, PVPV-Rawlings offers a proven, consistent track record at scale, while Ocean Palms provides a smaller, more resource-intensive environment with a clear trajectory of improvement. Both schools deliver proficiency rates 25-30 percentage points above state averages, making this zip code one of Florida's premier locations for elementary education.
Thank you for your feedback!