Summary:
Zip code 32617 in Anthony, Florida, is home to two elementary schools, Sparr Elementary School and Anthony Elementary School, both serving grades PK-5 within the Marion County School District, a district ranked in the bottom 10th percentile statewide.
Anthony Elementary School emerges as the stronger performer in this area, particularly in mathematics. While neither school ranks highly statewide, Anthony Elementary shows a clear upward trajectory in its state ranking, improving from the 38th percentile to the 26th percentile over two years, while Sparr Elementary School has declined from the 38th to the 14th percentile. Anthony Elementary’s standout achievement is in 5th Grade Math, where it achieved a 63% proficiency rate in 2025-2026—exceeding both the district average (54%) and the state average (62%). This is a remarkable feat for a school in a low-performing district. In contrast, Sparr Elementary’s math proficiency in the same grade was only 42%. Anthony Elementary also spends $2,772 more per student ($17,140 vs. $14,368), which correlates with its better academic outcomes, despite serving a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (70.09% on free/reduced lunch vs. 64.37%).
Both schools face significant challenges. Chronic absenteeism affects nearly one in three students at each school (Sparr: 30.2%, Anthony: 31.2%), close to the state average but still a major hurdle. English Language Arts (ELA) is a universal weakness, with proficiency rates across all grades ranging from 39% to 48%—well below the state average of 60-61%. For parents, Anthony Elementary School offers a stronger math program and a positive ranking trend, while Sparr Elementary School is in a notable decline. Both schools need improvement in reading and attendance to better serve their students.
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