Summary:
In zip code 33513, there is one elementary school, Bushnell Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 with 752 students in the Sumter district.
Bushnell Elementary School shows a mixed performance profile. The school’s strongest area is 5th Grade Science, where 70% of students are proficient, significantly outperforming both the district (63%) and state (60%) averages. Upper elementary grades also shine, with 4th and 5th graders scoring well above state averages in both ELA and Math. However, 3rd Grade ELA is a notable weakness, with only 53% proficiency compared to the state average of 60%. The school’s state percentile rank has declined from the 74th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 66th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, even though many test scores remain above state averages. Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 30.3%, higher than the district average of 26.9% and nearly matching the state average of 31.4%.
Key metrics include a free/reduced lunch eligibility rate of 44.28%, per-student spending of $13,356, and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. The school’s performance improves as students progress through the grades, with 3rd grade scores being the lowest in both subjects and 4th and 5th grade scores consistently above state averages. This pattern suggests the school’s curriculum is more effective in upper elementary grades, while early literacy may need additional focus. The declining state rank, despite strong test scores, indicates that other Florida schools are improving at a faster pace. Addressing the high chronic absenteeism rate could be a key lever for improvement, particularly for foundational reading skills in the early grades.
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