Summary:
Zip code 32653 in Gainesville, Florida, is home to a single elementary school, William S. Talbot Elementary School, which serves grades PK through 5 and enrolls 573 students. This school stands out as a high-performing institution within the Alachua district, which itself holds a 1-star rating. Talbot Elementary consistently earns a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, placing it in the top 25% of all Florida elementary schools, and its state ranking has improved from the 75th percentile to the 84th percentile over the past three years.
Academically, Talbot Elementary outperforms both the district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade level. For example, 5th grade science proficiency is 83%, compared to 57% for the district and 60% statewide. In math, 4th graders achieve an 87% proficiency rate, far exceeding the district’s 56% and the state’s 65%. English Language Arts proficiency ranges from 74% to 75% across grades 3-5, again surpassing district and state benchmarks. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 19.2%, significantly lower than the district and state averages of around 31%, and a student-teacher ratio of 14.8:1. Spending per student is $11,321, and 34.03% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating a relatively low level of economic disadvantage.
Key takeaways include the school’s exceptional and improving academic performance, with notable year-over-year gains such as a 14-point jump in 5th grade science and a 15-point jump in 4th grade math. The school’s low chronic absenteeism and strong test scores create a stable and effective learning environment. It is a clear "pocket of excellence" within the Alachua district, highlighting a significant disparity in quality between this school and the district’s overall 1-star rating. For parents, this school offers a consistently high-quality education with strong upward momentum.
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