Summary:
In zip code 32619, there is one elementary school, Bell Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 in the Bell, FL area, which is part of the highly-rated Gilchrist school district (ranked 6th out of 70 in Florida).
Bell Elementary School has an enrollment of 656 students and shows a mixed performance profile that parents should consider carefully. The school's 3rd graders achieved exceptional results in the most recent school year, with 86% proficiency in English Language Arts and 90% in Math, significantly outperforming state averages. However, 5th graders struggled, with only 48% proficiency in Math (compared to 62% statewide) and 57% in Science. This stark contrast between grade levels suggests the school excels in early elementary instruction but may face challenges maintaining that momentum in upper grades. The school's overall state ranking has declined from the 77th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 53rd percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, likely due to weaker performance in 4th and 5th grades dragging down the composite score.
Key metrics include a student-teacher ratio of 17.6:1, per-student spending of $12,288, and 51.37% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. A notable concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 27%, which is higher than the district average of 20.8% and could be contributing to inconsistent test scores, particularly in upper grades. The school also shows significant year-over-year volatility in test scores—for example, 3rd grade ELA proficiency jumped from 50% to 86% in one year—making it difficult to identify clear trends. While the school benefits from being in an excellent district, parents should investigate how the school supports students transitioning from 3rd to 5th grade and what interventions are in place to address attendance issues.
Thank you for your feedback!