Summary:
This analysis covers the two elementary schools in zip code 32091 (Starke, FL), Bradford Elementary School and Starke Elementary School, which serve grades PK through 6 and are part of the Bradford County School District, a district ranked in the bottom 25% of Florida.
Starke Elementary School stands out as the stronger performer in the area. It has a higher state ranking (43rd percentile) that is improving, while Bradford Elementary School has seen its ranking drop from the 52nd to the 41st percentile. Starke also boasts significantly better test scores, particularly in math, with 76% of 3rd graders proficient compared to just 51% at Bradford. Furthermore, Starke has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (30.5% vs. 39.6%), a more favorable student-teacher ratio (16.2:1 vs. 18.7:1), and spends $1,286 more per student. Bradford Elementary, while larger with 745 students, faces notable challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate that is well above the state average and a concerning drop in proficiency between 3rd and 4th grade.
Both schools serve a high-poverty population, with an average of 66.3% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite operating within a low-performing district, both schools have areas where they meet or exceed state averages. For example, Starke Elementary’s 5th Grade Science scores (62%) and 3rd Grade Math scores (76%) are above the state average. The data suggests that individual school leadership and resource allocation can make a significant difference, as Starke’s higher spending correlates with better outcomes across multiple metrics. For parents, the choice between these two schools is clear: Starke Elementary School offers a more stable and higher-performing environment, while Bradford Elementary School has more ground to make up, particularly in addressing chronic absenteeism and academic declines.
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