Summary:
In zip code 32086 (St. Augustine, FL), there are two elementary schools serving grades PK-5: Otis A. Mason Elementary School and W. Douglas Hartley Elementary, both part of the highly-rated St. Johns County School District.
Otis A. Mason Elementary School is the standout school in this area, consistently outperforming its local peer across nearly all academic metrics. Mason has maintained a 4-star rating for three consecutive years, ranking in the 85th percentile statewide, while Hartley has declined from a 4-star to a 3-star rating (68th percentile). Mason leads in 10 out of 14 individual test score comparisons, with notable advantages in 5th Grade Science (79% proficient vs. Hartley's 64%) and 5th Grade Math (77% vs. 59%). Interestingly, despite its higher performance, Mason has a higher chronic absenteeism rate (19.5%) compared to Hartley (14.4%), suggesting its instructional effectiveness may overcome this challenge. Mason also has a slightly lower student-teacher ratio (13.7:1) and spends less per student ($11,005) than Hartley ($11,865), indicating greater resource efficiency.
W. Douglas Hartley Elementary is on a concerning downward trajectory, with its state ranking falling for three consecutive years. This decline is most evident in 5th Grade Math, which dropped from 72% proficiency to just 59%. However, both schools benefit from being in the top-tier St. Johns district, and even Hartley often meets or exceeds state averages—for example, its 3rd Grade Math score (77%) is well above the state average (66%). Still, both schools are now falling behind district averages in several key areas, particularly in 4th and 5th Grade ELA and Math, indicating the district is raising the bar. For parents, Mason offers more consistent, high-level academic performance, while Hartley presents a more volatile but still competitive option within a strong district.
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