Summary:
In zip code 32177 (Palatka, FL), there are four elementary schools serving grades K-6, all part of the Putnam County School District, which ranks in the 11th percentile statewide, indicating significant district-wide challenges.
The standout school in this area is The Children's Reading Center, a high-performing charter school ranked in the 81st percentile (4 stars) for the 2025-2026 school year. It dramatically outperforms the three traditional public schools, which rank in the bottom 26th percentile or lower. For example, 97% of its 6th graders are proficient in math, compared to just 61% district-wide. In contrast, William D. Moseley Elementary School is the most challenged, ranking in the bottom 4th percentile (0 stars) with the highest chronic absenteeism rate (60.9%) and the highest percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (65.23%). Kelley Smith Elementary School and James A. Long Elementary School both rank in the 25th and 26th percentiles (1 star), respectively, with chronic absenteeism rates around 56%.
Key findings show that chronic absenteeism is a critical issue at the three traditional schools, with rates nearly double the state average of 31.4%, while The Children's Reading Center has a rate below the state average at 26.7%. Spending per student does not drive performance, as the highest-performing school has the lowest spending ($10,021 per student), while the lowest-performing schools spend more. Notably, Kelley Smith Elementary shows a bright spot in 6th-grade math, with 78% proficiency, significantly exceeding district (61%) and state (60%) averages, suggesting a potential area of instructional strength that could be replicated.
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