Summary:
Zip code 33438, located in Canal Point, Florida, is home to a single elementary school, K. E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 with a total enrollment of 283 students and is part of the Palm Beach school district.
As the only school in the area, K. E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary faces significant challenges, most notably a chronic absenteeism rate of 53.1% for the 2023-2024 school year—more than double the district average of 23.4% and well above the state average of 31.4%. This is a critical issue, as missing 10% or more of school days makes it extremely difficult for students to keep up with the curriculum. The school also serves a high-poverty population, with 88.34% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Despite spending a substantial $21,918 per student—well above national averages—the school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Florida elementary schools over the past three years, earning a 1-star rating each year.
There are some encouraging signs, however. The most recent test scores from the 2025-2026 school year show notable improvement compared to the previous year. For example, 5th grade English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency jumped from 34% to 60%, nearly matching the state average of 61%. Similarly, 4th grade math rose from 40% to 55%. While the school still lags behind district and state averages in most subjects, this upward trend suggests recent interventions may be starting to work. The 5th grade cohort, in particular, stands out as a relative bright spot, offering a potential model for improvement in other grades. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the school is investing heavily in resources, the high absenteeism rate remains the primary barrier to academic success, and any meaningful progress will likely require community-wide efforts to get students to school consistently.
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