Summary:
Zip code 34113 in Naples, Florida, is home to two elementary schools, Parkside Elementary School and Lely Elementary School, both serving grades PK-5 within the highly-rated Collier County School District. These schools present contrasting academic profiles that are important for parents to understand. Lely Elementary stands out as the higher-ranked school overall, placing in the 68th percentile statewide, and excels as a "strong starter" with exceptional 3rd grade scores—74% proficiency in ELA and 82% in Math. In contrast, Parkside Elementary, ranked in the 53rd percentile, is a "late bloomer" that shows remarkable growth in upper grades, with 4th graders scoring 73% in Math and 5th graders achieving 66% in Science, nearly matching the district average.
Key metrics reveal a fascinating "spending vs. performance" dynamic. Lely Elementary invests significantly more per student ($19,610 vs. $16,390) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (13.3 vs. 14.1), which correlates with its higher overall ranking. However, Parkside achieves comparable or better results in upper-grade Math and Science with less funding, suggesting highly efficient resource use. A major differentiator is chronic absenteeism: Parkside has an exceptionally low rate of 12.8%, nearly half of Lely's 21.5% and well below the district average of 17.4%, indicating strong student engagement at Parkside.
Despite their individual strengths, both schools generally lag behind the high-performing Collier County district averages in most subjects. For example, while Lely's 3rd grade Math score of 82% exceeds the district's 72%, Parkside's 53% falls far behind. This highlights a significant achievement gap compared to top-tier schools in the district. Parents should weigh Lely's strong early-grade foundation against Parkside's impressive upper-grade growth and lower absenteeism, recognizing that each school offers distinct advantages depending on a child's grade level and needs.
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