Bessey Creek Elementary School

Q: Is Bessey Creek Elementary School a good school?

Bessey Creek Elementary School ranks 253 rd of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Bessey Creek Elementary School is a public elementary school in Palm City, Florida, serving 562 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Martin County School District, which is ranked 33 out of 68 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Bessey Creek Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state averages in standardized test scores, with 70-83% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 76-83% in Math, compared to the district's 52-59% and 59-66%, respectively. The school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate of 72% is also significantly higher than the district's 58% and the state's 53%. Bessey Creek has maintained a strong statewide ranking, placing in the top 10-15% of Florida elementary schools in recent years.

However, the school's student population is predominantly white, with 78-80% of students identifying as such, and it serves a more affluent student population compared to nearby schools, such as Jensen Beach Elementary School and Port Salerno Elementary School, which have higher percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This disparity in racial and socioeconomic representation may warrant further investigation into potential factors contributing to the lack of diversity and the potential impact on the school's academic performance.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

2201 SW Matheson Ave
Palm City, FL 34990

(772) 219-1500

District: Martin

SchoolDigger Rank:
253^rd of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,344

Students who attend Bessey Creek Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Hidden Oaks Middle School
High:	Martin County High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.2

Number of students: 563

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.6%

Hispanic:

13.1%

Two or more races:

4.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Bessey Creek Elementary School ranks better than 88.8% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 3^rd among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Martin School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (80.6%), Hispanic (13.1%), two or more races (4.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bessey Creek Elementary School is 15.2, which is the 8^th best among 12 elementary schools in the Martin School District. (See more...)

Compare Bessey Creek Elementary School employs 37 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bessey Creek Elementary School is $12,344, which is the 7^th highest among 12 elementary schools in the Martin School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Bessey Creek Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Martin:

SchoolDigger ranks Martin 33^rd of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Bessey Creek Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	88.36	153^rd	1688	90.9%
2007	85.00	215^th	1786	88.0%
2008	86.23	181^st	1789	89.9%
2009	89.23	117^th	1847	93.7%
2010	87.04	170^th	1919	91.1%
2011	86.84	182^nd	1985	90.8%
2012	90.30	129^th	1984	93.5%
2013	83.94	264^th	2029	87.0%
2014	82.66	321^st	2064	84.4%
2016	86.51	230^th	2087	89.0%
2017	89.40	162^nd	2112	92.3%
2018	87.91	210^th	2118	90.1%
2019	82.81	337^th	2182	84.6%
2021	91.70	134^th	2247	94.0%
2022	87.29	251^st	2219	88.7%
2023	87.78	223^rd	2240	90.0%
2024	87.00	253^rd	2256	88.8%

See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Florida Department of Education

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Bessey Creek Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1997	444	2	6	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	454
1998	526	1	5	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	535
1999	575	2	6	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	590
2000	612	2	5	7	2	n/a	n/a	0	628
2001	642	4	4	10	2	n/a	n/a	0	662
2002	638	5	4	20	1	n/a	n/a	0	668
2003	638	5	4	20	1	n/a	n/a	0	668
2004	636	4	4	18	0	n/a	n/a	0	662
2005	660	4	8	28	1	n/a	n/a	0	701
2006	706	7	10	27	2	n/a	n/a	0	752
2007	704	14	14	39	4	n/a	n/a	28	803
2008	657	8	14	38	5	n/a	n/a	30	752
2009	501	5	9	29	3	n/a	n/a	25	572
2010	485	6	9	31	3	n/a	n/a	22	556
2011	452	5	10	55	2	0	10	0	534
2012	442	3	9	61	1	0	9	0	525
2013	447	7	6	68	0	0	6	0	534
2014	455	4	6	68	0	0	8	0	541
2015	466	2	5	72	0	1	6	0	552
2016	449	1	8	64	0	2	10	0	534
2017	450	6	9	66	0	1	9	0	541
2018	470	7	11	61	2	1	13	0	565
2019	475	7	9	66	0	1	17	0	575
2020	458	8	14	69	0	1	16	0	566
2021	417	9	14	68	0	1	15	0	524
2022	422	7	25	63	0	1	20	0	538
2023	440	4	16	76	0	0	26	0	562
2024	454	1	10	74	0	0	24	0	563

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bessey Creek Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	454	23.0	19.7	3.7
1998	535	25.0	21.4	4.5
1999	590	29.0	20.3	4.7
2000	628	32.0	19.6	5.7
2001	662	35.0	18.9	8.6
2002	668	34.0	19.6	7.2
2003	668	34.0	19.6	7.2
2004	662	37.0	17.9	9.5
2005	701	39.0	18.0	8.8
2006	752	41.0	18.3	6.4
2007	803	45.0	17.8	6.8
2008	752	46.5	16.2	7.1
2009	572	37.7	17.1	8.2
2010	556	35.0	15.8	13.5
2011	534	39.5	13.5	15.7
2012	525	37.0	14.1	17.3
2013	534	39.0	13.6	18.7
2014	541	40.0	13.5	18.1
2015	552	40.0	13.8	19.7
2016	534	39.0	13.6	21.3
2017	541	40.0	13.5	18.7
2018	565	41.0	13.7	18.4
2019	575	39.0	14.7	20
2020	566	35.5	15.9	23.9
2021	524	31.5	16.6	29.4
2022	538	36.5	14.7	23.8
2023	562	37.5	14.9	27.6
2024	563	37.0	15.2	25.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bessey Creek Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	454	23.0	19.7	3.7
1998	535	25.0	21.4	4.5
1999	590	29.0	20.3	4.7
2000	628	32.0	19.6	5.7
2001	662	35.0	18.9	8.6
2002	668	34.0	19.6	7.2
2003	668	34.0	19.6	7.2
2004	662	37.0	17.9	9.5
2005	701	39.0	18.0	8.8
2006	752	41.0	18.3	6.4
2007	803	45.0	17.8	6.8
2008	752	46.5	16.2	7.1
2009	572	37.7	17.1	8.2
2010	556	35.0	15.8	13.5
2011	534	39.5	13.5	15.7
2012	525	37.0	14.1	17.3
2013	534	39.0	13.6	18.7
2014	541	40.0	13.5	18.1
2015	552	40.0	13.8	19.7
2016	534	39.0	13.6	21.3
2017	541	40.0	13.5	18.7
2018	565	41.0	13.7	18.4
2019	575	39.0	14.7	20
2020	566	35.5	15.9	23.9
2021	524	31.5	16.6	29.4
2022	538	36.5	14.7	23.8
2023	562	37.5	14.9	27.6
2024	563	37.0	15.2	25.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bessey Creek Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$680 (8.1%)	$7,681 (91.9%)	$8,361
2019	$686 (7.4%)	$8,553 (92.6%)	$9,239
2020	$520 (5.5%)	$8,943 (94.5%)	$9,462
2021	$743 (7.4%)	$9,313 (92.6%)	$10,057
2022	$1,864 (16.3%)	$9,588 (83.7%)	$11,452
2023	$1,798 (14.6%)	$10,546 (85.4%)	$12,344

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bessey Creek Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 337^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 223^rd of 2240 Elementary schools	5.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	77	65	12%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Martin)	54	51	3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	75	65	10%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Martin)	58	54	4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	73	81	8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Martin)	57	55	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	74	88	14%
4th Grade Mathematics (Martin)	67	60	7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	79	83	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Martin)	55	50	5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	80	79	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Martin)	64	45	19%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Bessey Creek Elementary School)	64	73	9%
5th Grade Science (Martin)	53	50	3%
5th Grade Science (Florida)	53	51	2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	575	562	2.3%
African American	7	4	42.9%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	9	16	77.8%
Hispanic	66	76	15.2%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	475	440	7.4%
Two or More Races	17	26	52.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	20%	27.6%	7.6%

Schools Near Bessey Creek Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				FAST English Language Arts (2024)			FAST Math (2024)			Statewide Science Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bessey Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2201 SW Matheson Ave	Palm City	34990	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1500	563	37	15.2	25.9%	454 (80.6%)	1 (0.2%)	74 (13.1%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.3%)	87	253^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	88.8%		87.8	223^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	90.0%	30	70.0	75.0	71.0	76.0	83.0	78.0	72.0	$12,344	$1,798	$10,546
Palm City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1951 SW 34th St	Palm City	34990	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1565	567	35	16.2	21.5%	472 (83.2%)	7 (1.2%)	51 (9.0%)	26 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	92.1	108^th of 2256 public elementary schools	95.2%		91.5	129^th of 2240 public elementary schools	94.2%	21	83.0	73.0	81.0	85.0	77.0	83.0	79.0	$10,959	$850	$10,108
The Hope Charter Center For Autism	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	2580 SE Willoughby Blvd	Stuart	34994	Martin County	Martin	Yes	No	No	No	(772) 334-3288	92	12	7.6	57.6%	53 (57.6%)	12 (13.0%)	21 (22.8%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.3%)								(n/a)
Citrus Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2527 SW Citrus Blvd	Palm City	34990	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 223-2513	572	37	15.4	24.7%	431 (75.3%)	18 (3.1%)	89 (15.6%)	14 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.5%)	91.3	134^th of 2256 public elementary schools	94.1%		90.7	157^th of 2240 public elementary schools	93.0%	23	76.0	74.0	79.0	86.0	84.0	86.0	69.0	$10,448	$629	$9,820
J. D. Parker School Of Technology	Public	PK, KG-5	1010 SE 10th St	Stuart	34996	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 219-1580	513	33	15.5	70.2%	107 (20.9%)	118 (23.0%)	243 (47.4%)	11 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (6.6%)	38	1402^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	37.9%		43.5	1241^st of 2240 public elementary schools	44.6%	161	30.0	45.0	45.0	49.0	57.0	58.0	50.0	$12,694	$2,229	$10,465
Felix A Williams Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	401 NW Baker Rd	Stuart	34994	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1640	512	34	15.0	42.8%	381 (74.4%)	34 (6.6%)	71 (13.9%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.5%)	78.5	445^th of 2256 public elementary schools	80.3%		81	386^th of 2240 public elementary schools	82.8%	59	67.0	68.0	59.0	79.0	69.0	77.0	63.0	$12,193	$1,110	$11,083
Pinewood Elementary School	Public	K-5	5200 SE Willoughby Blvd	Stuart	34997	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 219-1595	678	47	14.4	61.8%	238 (35.1%)	50 (7.4%)	343 (50.6%)	16 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (4.4%)	31.9	1564^th of 2256 public elementary schools	30.7%		31.5	1567^th of 2240 public elementary schools	30.0%	3	43.0	39.0	53.0	39.0	39.0	51.0	51.0	$12,149	$2,284	$9,866
Jensen Beach Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2525 NE Savannah Rd	Jensen Beach	34957	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1555	573	41	13.9	46.1%	409 (71.4%)	35 (6.1%)	75 (13.1%)	15 (2.6%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (6.1%)	82.2	350^th of 2256 public elementary schools	84.5%		84	315^th of 2240 public elementary schools	85.9%	35	74.0	53.0	73.0	78.0	67.0	86.0	79.0	$12,123	$1,575	$10,547
Port Salerno Learning Center	Public	PK	3400 Lionel Terrace	Stuart	34997	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	No	(772) 219-1200	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Port Salerno Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3260 SE Lionel Ter	Stuart	34997	Martin County	Martin	No	No	No	Yes	(772) 219-1610	686	45	15.2	66.5%	78 (11.4%)	34 (5.0%)	564 (82.2%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (1.0%)	27.9	1687^th of 2256 public elementary schools	25.2%		23.5	1785^th of 2240 public elementary schools	20.3%	98	39.0	33.0	48.0	48.0	45.0	48.0	45.0	$13,482	$2,999	$10,484

Frequently Asked Questions about Bessey Creek Elementary School

How many students attend Bessey Creek Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 563 students attended Bessey Creek Elementary School.

What district is Bessey Creek Elementary School in?

Martin

Is Bessey Creek Elementary School a good school?

Bessey Creek Elementary School ranks 253^rd of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Bessey Creek Elementary School?

Students at Bessey Creek Elementary School are 81% White, 13% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Bessey Creek Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Bessey Creek Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hidden Oaks Middle School
High : Martin County High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.