Best Public Schools in Zip Code 32317

Zip code 32317 in Tallahassee, Florida, is home to three schools within the Leon County school district, serving elementary and middle school students (grades PK-8) with no high schools in the immediate area. The standout school is Buck Lake Elementary School, which consistently ranks in the 81st percentile statewide (4-star rating) and boasts the highest test scores across nearly all subjects, with 77% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA and 81% of 5th graders proficient in math. In contrast, Chaires Elementary School is the lowest-ranked school but shows the greatest improvement, jumping 13 percentile points in one year to reach the 64th percentile, and it matches Buck Lake’s top math performance with 81% of 5th graders proficient. Swift Creek Middle School stands out for its exceptional advanced coursework, achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and Biology End-of-Course exams, though its grade-level FAST scores are more moderate.

Key metrics reveal stark differences between schools. Buck Lake has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (9.8%) and the lowest economic disadvantage rate (14.8% free/reduced lunch), while Chaires faces higher challenges with a 43.78% poverty rate and 24.7% absenteeism. Swift Creek, the largest school with 793 students, has a 28.63% poverty rate and 28.6% absenteeism. Spending per student is inversely related to performance: Chaires spends the most ($13,034) but ranks lowest, while Buck Lake spends less ($11,252) and ranks highest, suggesting factors like teaching quality and community involvement matter more than raw funding. Student-teacher ratios range from 14.5 at Chaires to 18.4 at Swift Creek.

An interesting takeaway is the "two-tier" elementary system, where Buck Lake serves a more affluent population with strong attendance, while Chaires serves a higher-poverty community yet shows rapid improvement, especially in math. Swift Creek presents a paradox: its top students excel in advanced courses, but average students perform at more typical levels. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern, with all three schools below the Leon County average of 36.8%, but Swift Creek (28.6%) and Chaires (24.7%) still have room for improvement. Overall, this zip code offers strong elementary options with Buck Lake as a top performer and Chaires as a rising star, while Swift Creek provides excellent opportunities for advanced middle school learners.