Summary:
In zip code 33050, there is one elementary school, Stanley Switlik Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 in Marathon, Florida, with 602 students enrolled in the Monroe County school district.
Stanley Switlik Elementary School shows a notable pattern of strong early performance followed by a decline in upper grades. In 3rd grade, the school excels in math with 81% proficiency, outperforming both the district (70%) and state (66%) averages, while matching the district in ELA at 62%. However, by 4th and 5th grade, proficiency drops significantly below district and state averages in all subjects, including math (53% in 5th grade vs. 62% statewide) and science (43% in 5th grade vs. 60% statewide). The school spends $17,604 per student, a high figure likely reflecting the cost of living in the Florida Keys, yet its overall state ranking remains in the 36th percentile (2 stars) for the 2025-2026 school year, with a chronic absenteeism rate of 22.8% (lower than the state average of 31.4% but slightly above the district's 21.8%).
Key takeaways for parents include the school's strong 3rd grade math performance, which suggests effective early instruction, but the sharp decline in 4th and 5th grade scores indicates potential challenges with curriculum continuity or student engagement in upper elementary grades. The school's high spending does not translate into top-tier outcomes, and its consistent low state ranking over three years (36th, 41st, and 37th percentiles) points to systemic issues rather than a temporary dip. With 66.61% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch and a student-teacher ratio of 14.8:1, the school serves a predominantly low-income community within a highly-rated district, making it a candidate for targeted support to address the upper-grade performance gap.
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