Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in West Palm Beach, FL (zip code 33401), all within the Palm Beach County School District, where a high level of economic disadvantage is common across the area.
U. B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary is the standout school, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 58th percentile—the only school in the area showing a strong upward trajectory. It exceeds district averages in most subjects, including 74% proficiency in 5th-grade Math and 71% in 4th-grade ELA, despite having the lowest per-student spending ($14,736) and the highest student-teacher ratio (17.7:1). In contrast, Roosevelt Elementary School is the lowest performer, holding a 0-star rating and ranking in the bottom 5% of Florida elementary schools, with proficiency rates often 20-30 percentage points below the district average (e.g., 20% in 3rd-grade ELA). Westward Elementary School sits in the middle as a consistent 1-star school, remaining in the bottom 22nd percentile for three years, with moderate performance such as 59% proficiency in 5th-grade ELA.
A critical differentiator is chronic absenteeism: Roosevelt has a staggering 44.8% rate, nearly double the district average of 23.4%, while Westward (31.9%) and U. B. Kinsey/Palmview (32.2%) are closer to the state average. Notably, Roosevelt spends the most per student ($18,611) yet achieves the worst results, while U. B. Kinsey/Palmview spends the least and excels, proving that funding alone does not drive success. The comparison between U. B. Kinsey/Palmview and Westward—both with similar poverty rates (~75%) and absenteeism (~32%) but vastly different outcomes—highlights that school culture, leadership, and instructional quality are the primary factors behind performance in this zip code.
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