Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 34974

This analysis examines four elementary schools in zip code 34974 (Okeechobee, FL), serving grades from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, and reveals a stark contrast between a high-performing charter school and three traditional public schools facing significant challenges.

Pemayetv Emahakv Charter Our Way School, part of the Glades district, is the standout school in the area, ranking in the 83rd percentile statewide with exceptional test scores—94% of its 5th graders were proficient in Math compared to the state average of 62%. It spends $35,219 per student, nearly three times more than any other school in the zip code, and has a free/reduced lunch rate of just 1%. In contrast, the three Okeechobee district schools—South Elementary School, Everglades Elementary School, and Central Elementary School—serve populations with 70-87% free/reduced lunch rates and rank in the 43rd, 16th, and 8th percentiles respectively. South Elementary is the best-performing traditional school, outperforming its district peers despite a 70% poverty rate, suggesting effective leadership or programs are making a difference.

A critical issue across all four schools is chronic absenteeism, which ranges from 38.5% at Pemayetv Emahakv to 47.7% at South Elementary, all well above the state average of 31.4%. This systemic problem likely undermines academic progress throughout the zip code. The data also shows a clear correlation between spending and achievement: Pemayetv Emahakv spends over three times as much per student as Central Elementary ($10,728) and achieves top-quartile results, while Central has the lowest spending and lowest ranking. For parents, this means the school's district affiliation and funding model are more significant factors in performance than geographic location, with Pemayetv Emahakv offering a dramatically different educational experience compared to the Okeechobee district schools.