Summary:
The four public schools in zip code 32086, serving St. Augustine, Florida, are part of the highly-rated St. Johns County School District and include two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, with a total enrollment of 3,626 students.
Among these schools, Otis A. Mason Elementary School stands out for academic excellence, earning a 4-star rating and leading the area with the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.7:1) and strong test scores, particularly in 5th Grade Science (79% proficient) and 3rd Grade ELA (82% proficient). In contrast, W. Douglas Hartley Elementary spends the most per student ($11,865) but trails its zip code counterpart in performance. Gamble Rogers Middle School presents a paradox: it achieves perfect 100% proficiency in Biology 1 and 88% in Geometry, yet struggles in standard grade-level assessments like 8th Grade Science (51% vs. district 74%) and 8th Grade Math (55% vs. district 79%). Pedro Menendez High School faces a critical challenge with a 40.4% chronic absenteeism rate—double the district average—which likely contributes to its below-district performance in core subjects like Algebra 1 (39% proficient).
Key takeaways include a potential "feeder pattern" decline, where strong elementary performance gives way to mixed middle school results and weaker high school outcomes. Spending does not directly correlate with performance, as Otis A. Mason achieves higher results with lower spending than W. Douglas Hartley. The high absenteeism at Pedro Menendez is a red flag that, if addressed, could significantly improve its academic standing. Overall, families should consider the standout strengths of Otis A. Mason for elementary education, the advanced course offerings at Gamble Rogers, and the attendance challenges at Pedro Menendez when evaluating schools in this area.
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