Summary:
Zip code 32350 in Madison County, Florida, is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK-6 and PK-8: Madison Creative Arts Academy Inc and Pinetta Elementary School, both part of the Madison district, which ranks in the 9th percentile statewide.
Pinetta Elementary School stands out as the more consistent performer, especially in mathematics, where its 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade math proficiency rates all reach 69%—far exceeding the district average. Despite serving a high-poverty population (62.81% free/reduced lunch) and having a higher student-teacher ratio (18.6:1), Pinetta spends significantly more per student ($12,400) than its counterpart. In contrast, Madison Creative Arts Academy Inc is a larger, arts-focused magnet school with smaller class sizes (14.7:1) and lower per-student spending ($9,562). It shows a "bimodal" academic profile: excelling in advanced coursework like Algebra 1 (100% proficient) and middle school math, but struggling in foundational elementary subjects, with 4th-grade math at just 33% proficiency. A critical concern at Madison Creative Arts is its chronic absenteeism rate of 43.3%, which is nearly 12 points above the state average and likely contributes to its inconsistent performance.
Both schools are currently rated as 2-star institutions, but their state ranking percentiles have declined over the past three years. Pinetta Elementary has dropped from the 65th to the 47th percentile, while Madison Creative Arts Academy has slipped from the 50th to the 35th. For parents, the key takeaway is a trade-off: Pinetta offers strong, consistent foundational instruction in a small, high-poverty setting with higher spending per student, while Madison Creative Arts provides advanced opportunities for older students but struggles with attendance and elementary-level basics. Both schools face challenges within a low-performing district, making it important to consider each child's specific needs when choosing.
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