Summary:
In zip code 34452 in Inverness, Florida, there are two public elementary schools serving grades PK through 5: Inverness Primary School and Pleasant Grove Elementary School, both part of the Citrus County School District, which ranks in the bottom 24% of Florida districts.
Pleasant Grove Elementary School stands out as the stronger performer overall, ranking in the 42nd percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year compared to Inverness Primary School's 38th percentile. The most remarkable finding is Pleasant Grove's exceptional math performance, with its 6th-grade cohort achieving 96% proficiency in 2024-2025 and 92% in 2025-2026—far exceeding district averages of 46% and 54%, respectively. Inverness Primary also shows strong math results, with 86% proficiency in 6th-grade math in 2024-2025, but Pleasant Grove's scores are in a league of their own. Both schools have seen a decline in state rankings since 2023-2024, yet they consistently outperform the district in nearly every subject and grade level, making them relative bright spots in a struggling district.
Chronic absenteeism is a shared challenge, with rates of 30.2% at Inverness Primary and 29.1% at Pleasant Grove, both slightly below the state average of 31.4% but still affecting nearly one in three students. Interestingly, Inverness Primary spends $742 more per student ($11,860 vs. $11,118) yet achieves lower performance in key areas like 4th-grade math (73% vs. 79%), suggesting Pleasant Grove operates more efficiently. Science is a weakness for both schools, with 5th-grade scores of 55% and 54% falling short of the state average of 60%. For parents, Pleasant Grove offers a slight academic edge, particularly in math, while both schools provide solid options within a district that faces broader challenges.
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