Summary:
This analysis examines seven elementary schools in the 32084 zip code of St. Augustine, Florida, serving grades PK-5 (with some exceptions), and includes five traditional public schools in the highly-ranked St. Johns district, one public Montessori charter, and two specialized state schools for Deaf and Blind students under the Deaf/Blind district.
Among the traditional public schools, Ketterlinus Elementary School stands out as the highest-performing and most consistent, earning a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the top 20-25% of Florida elementary schools. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (16.4%) and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (44.94%) among its peers. In contrast, James A. Webster Elementary School shows a concerning downward trend, dropping from the 63rd percentile to the 35th percentile over two years, and has the highest free/reduced lunch rate (70.99%) in the area. Osceola Elementary School and Crookshank Elementary School perform near district averages, while St. Augustine Public Montessori School presents a paradox: despite having the lowest poverty rate (5.26% free/reduced lunch), it ranks in the bottom third of the state, likely due to its non-traditional teaching model.
The two specialized schools, Deaf Elementary School (Fsdb) and Blind Pk-8 School (Fsdb), have the highest per-student spending ($47,918) and lowest student-teacher ratios (5.3:1 and 3.8:1, respectively), reflecting the intensive resources required for their unique missions. Their test scores are low compared to general education schools but should be viewed in context. Overall, the data shows that while being in the top-ranked St. Johns district provides a strong foundation, outcomes vary widely, with chronic absenteeism and socioeconomic factors playing significant roles in school performance.
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