Summary:
This analysis examines three public elementary schools (PK-5) in zip code 33440 (Clewiston, FL), all part of the Hendry County School District, which serves a community with high economic disadvantage, as indicated by free/reduced lunch rates above 64%.
Central Elementary School stands out as the top performer, achieving the highest state ranking (65th percentile) and demonstrating consistent improvement over three years. It leads in 5th Grade Science with 71% proficiency, far exceeding the district (50%) and state (60%) averages. Notably, Central achieves these results despite having the lowest spending per student ($11,058) and the highest student-to-teacher ratio (20.2:1), making it a model of efficiency. In contrast, Westside Elementary School is a math powerhouse, posting the highest 3rd Grade Math proficiency (76%) in the area, but it faces a critical challenge with a 36.6% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly double the district average. Eastside Elementary School spends the most per student ($12,121) but has the lowest average math proficiency (70.7%) and the second-lowest state rank, showing that spending does not guarantee performance.
A key takeaway is that all three schools are significantly stronger in Math than in English Language Arts (ELA), with every grade level scoring higher in Math. For example, at Eastside, 5th Grade Math proficiency is 83% versus 78% in ELA. Chronic absenteeism is a severe crisis at Westside (36.6%) and Eastside (36.1%), both well above the state average (31.4%) and 80% higher than the district average (20.1%). Central Elementary, with a 26.3% absenteeism rate, is the only school performing better than the state on this metric, reinforcing its status as the most effective school in the area.
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