Summary:
The six schools in zip code 32428 (Chipley, FL) are part of the Washington school district, which ranks in the 26th percentile statewide, and serve students from elementary through high school, including three alternative schools.
The standout school in the area is Roulhac Middle School, the only school in the district with a consistent 3-star rating. It outperforms state averages in Algebra 1 (76% proficient vs. 63%) and Civics (84% vs. 77%), and its chronic absenteeism rate of 29.8% is the lowest among traditional schools. In contrast, Chipley High School struggles significantly, with only 19% of students proficient in Algebra 1—a dramatic drop from the 75% proficiency seen in 8th-grade math at Roulhac. Kate M. Smith Elementary School shows mixed results, with strong 3rd and 4th-grade math scores but weakness in 5th-grade math (39%) and science (45%). The alternative schools serve specialized populations: Washington Academy Of Varying Exceptionalities (Wave) spends $27,897 per student but has a 59.1% chronic absenteeism rate, while the virtual schools (Washington Virtual Franchise and Washington Virtual Instruction Program) have tiny enrollments and very low absenteeism but lack test score data.
Chronic absenteeism is a systemic crisis, with traditional schools like Chipley High (45.4%) and Kate M. Smith Elementary (43.1%) far exceeding the state average of 31.4%. The "Algebra 1 Cliff" between Roulhac Middle and Chipley High suggests a major instructional gap at the high school level. Notably, high spending does not guarantee performance—Roulhac achieves top results with a modest $10,721 per student, while WAVE spends nearly three times that with no measurable academic outcomes. For parents, Roulhac Middle School is the clear academic bright spot, but the transition to high school and the widespread absenteeism are critical concerns.
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