Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools in West Palm Beach, Florida, zip code 33405—Palmetto Elementary School, South Olive Elementary School, and Belvedere Elementary School—which serve grades PK through 5 and are part of the Palm Beach school district.
South Olive Elementary School is the standout performer in this area, consistently earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 57th to 63rd percentile statewide over the past three years. It leads in academic achievement, with 5th Grade Science proficiency at 70%—10 points above the state average—and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (19.3%) and the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (45.44%) among the three schools. In contrast, Belvedere Elementary School faces the most challenges, with a consistent 1-star rating, the highest economic disadvantage rate (70.88% free/reduced lunch), and the highest chronic absenteeism (26.9%). Palmetto Elementary School is a notable turnaround story, jumping from a 1-star rating in 2023-2024 to a 3-star rating in 2025-2026, with test scores now competitive with South Olive’s in 4th and 5th grade ELA and Math.
Key takeaways include that higher spending per student does not guarantee better results—Palmetto spends the most ($19,735) but is not the top performer, while South Olive spends the least ($17,889). Additionally, all three schools report a suspicious 100% proficiency in 6th Grade Math, likely a data error. The data clearly shows that schools with lower economic disadvantage and lower chronic absenteeism tend to perform better academically, with South Olive exemplifying this pattern. For parents, South Olive offers the most consistent and high-quality education, while Palmetto shows promising recent improvement worth monitoring.
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