Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools in Pensacola, Florida (zip code 32503), serving 1,970 students from Pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade, all part of the Escambia school district, which ranks in the bottom half of Florida districts.
The standout performer is N. B. Cook Elementary School, which has earned a 5-star rating and ranks in the top 10% of Florida elementary schools for three consecutive years. It boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (8.6%) and highest test scores, with 89% of 5th graders proficient in English Language Arts. In contrast, O. J. Semmes Elementary School struggles significantly, ranking in the bottom 10% with a 0-star rating, a 62.3% chronic absenteeism rate, and critically low test scores (e.g., only 13% of 4th graders proficient in ELA). Cordova Park Elementary School is a consistent high-achiever with a 4-star rating, strong math scores (84% of 3rd graders proficient), and the only school serving 6th grade. A. K. Suter Elementary School sits in the middle with a 4-star rating, moderate poverty (48.4% free/reduced lunch), and the highest student-teacher ratio (17.2).
A key finding is the "money paradox": O. J. Semmes spends the most per student ($14,099) but has the lowest performance, while top schools like N. B. Cook spend less ($11,037). Chronic absenteeism is the strongest predictor of performance, with a near-perfect inverse correlation to test scores. This zip code illustrates extreme educational inequality, with two top-tier schools and one struggling school within blocks of each other, highlighting how school boundaries create vastly different educational realities. The district's overall low ranking suggests that the success of N. B. Cook and Cordova Park is not representative of Escambia County as a whole.
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