Summary:
The five elementary schools in Gainesville's 32609 zip code, all part of the Alachua school district, serve grades K-5 and present a dramatic contrast in performance, ranging from a top-tier charter to a school in the bottom 1% of the state.
Two charter schools clearly lead the area. Boulware Springs Charter is the standout, ranking in the 75th percentile with a 4-star rating and averaging 72% proficiency across subjects, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (17.6%). The One Room School House Project is a strong second, showing remarkable improvement to the 64th percentile and averaging 67% proficiency. In contrast, the traditional public schools struggle significantly. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School is the most challenged, ranking in the bottom 1% with an average proficiency of just 17% and a staggering 62.6% chronic absenteeism rate. W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School also faces major hurdles, ranking in the bottom 3% with 29% proficiency and 53.3% chronic absenteeism. Stephen Foster Elementary School sits in the middle with 43% proficiency.
The most critical finding is that money does not equal success. The two lowest-performing schools, Rawlings and Metcalfe, have the highest per-student spending ($14,002 and $12,985), while the top-performing charters spend the least (around $9,600). Instead, chronic absenteeism emerges as the strongest predictor of performance, with a near-perfect inverse correlation to test scores. All schools serve a population with significant economic need, but the two charter schools are dramatically outperforming their traditional public school counterparts, highlighting the profound impact of school culture and attendance on student outcomes in this single zip code.
Thank you for your feedback!