Summary:
Zip code 32466 in Youngstown, FL, is home to a single elementary school, Waller Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 5 with 423 students and is part of the Bay County school district.
Waller Elementary is a school facing significant challenges, most notably a critically high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.8%—far exceeding both the district (35.3%) and state (31.4%) averages. This is likely a major factor behind the school's declining state ranking, which has dropped from the 52nd percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 30th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. The school serves a high-needs population, with 70.21% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. Despite a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1 and a substantial per-student spending of $13,783, academic proficiency in most subjects and grades falls below state averages. For example, 5th-grade math proficiency is just 39%, compared to the state average of 62%, and 5th-grade science proficiency is 53%, below the state's 60%.
There are a few bright spots worth noting. Fourth-grade math proficiency (62%) actually outperforms the district average (60%), suggesting a potential area of strength that could be replicated. Additionally, 3rd-grade English Language Arts proficiency showed a significant year-over-year improvement, rising from 40% to 51%. However, these gains are inconsistent, as 4th-grade ELA proficiency dropped from 54% to 47% over the same period. For parents, the most critical takeaway is that Waller Elementary is a school in transition, where high investment per student is not yet yielding strong academic results, and addressing the absenteeism crisis appears to be the most urgent priority for improving outcomes.
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