Summary:
In zip code 33770, there is one elementary school, Mildred Helms Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 in Largo, Florida, as part of the Pinellas County school district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 79th percentile statewide.
Mildred Helms Elementary is a school of contrasts, with notable strengths and clear areas for growth. Its biggest standout is 5th Grade Science, where 73% of students are proficient—13 points above the state average and 3 points above the district. The school also shows consistent strength in 4th Grade Math, with 74% proficiency for two consecutive years, outperforming both district and state averages. However, a concerning "5th Grade Slump" appears in both ELA and Math: 5th graders score 58% in ELA (3 points below the state) and 61% in Math (1 point below the state), while 3rd and 4th graders meet or exceed state averages. This suggests a need for targeted support as students transition to more complex content. Despite serving a population where 61.55% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, the school achieves above-state proficiency in 3rd and 4th Grade Math and 4th Grade ELA, indicating effective teaching and leadership. Chronic absenteeism is notably lower (25.4%) than both the district (30.6%) and state (31.4%), which supports consistent learning.
While the school's state ranking dropped from the 70th to the 64th percentile in the most recent year, this does not reflect a decline in all subjects—rather, it suggests other schools are improving faster. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1 and spending of $13,108 per student, Mildred Helms Elementary offers a solid foundation, particularly in science and early-grade math, but families should be aware of the challenges in 5th grade academics. The school's ability to achieve strong results despite economic challenges makes it a noteworthy option in the area.
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