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South Elementary School

Summary:

South Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Okeechobee, Florida, with a student population of 573. The school faces several challenges, including declining statewide rankings, high chronic absenteeism, and serving a population with significant economic disadvantages.

South Elementary has a higher percentage of white students (56.89%) compared to the surrounding schools, which have more diverse student populations. The school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 15.1% in 2019-2020 to 44.9% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the surrounding schools. While South Elementary generally performs better than the Okeechobee school district average on state assessments, particularly in math, its performance lags behind the state average in many subjects. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students (61.43%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher level of economic disadvantage compared to the state.

Interestingly, South Elementary's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past several years, from 763 out of 2,112 Florida elementary schools in 2016-2017 to 1,096 out of 2,256 in 2023-2024. This suggests the school is struggling to keep pace with other schools in the state. While South Elementary outperforms the Okeechobee district average, it lags behind the performance of nearby schools like Seminole Elementary and Everglades Elementary, particularly in English Language Arts. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for improving student outcomes at South Elementary.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2468 SW 7th Ave
       Okeechobee, FL  34974

(863) 462-5087

District: Okeechobee

SchoolDigger Rank:
1096th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,211 Help


Students who attend South Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Osceola Middle School
High:    Okeechobee High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.9 Help
Number of students:  573

Racial breakdown:

White:
56.9%
Hispanic:
30.0%
African American:
6.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  61.4% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details South Elementary School ranks better than 51.4% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks first among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Okeechobee School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 49.79. (See more...)
Help
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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (56.9%), Hispanic (30%), African American (6.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 61.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Okeechobee School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Elementary School is 15.9, which is the 2nd best among 5 elementary schools in the Okeechobee School District. (See more...)
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Compare South Elementary School employs 36 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Elementary School is $11,211, which is the 2nd highest among 5 elementary schools in the Okeechobee School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Okeechobee:

SchoolDigger ranks Okeechobee 64th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 73.71 443rd 1688 73.8%
2007 58.69 764th 1786 57.2%
2008 61.46 718th 1789 59.9%
2009 53.23 920th 1847 50.2%
2010 52.64 975th 1919 49.2%
2011 37.34 1321st 1985 33.5%
2012 25.15 1559th 1984 21.4%
2013 30.54 1474th 2029 27.4%
2014 26.22 1591st 2064 22.9%
2016 53.37 973rd 2087 53.4%
2017 63.16 763rd 2112 63.9%
2018 51.18 1023rd 2118 51.7%
2019 36.85 1400th 2182 35.8%
2021 35.13 1442nd 2247 35.8%
2022 38.81 1351st 2219 39.1%
2023 45.69 1194th 2240 46.7%
2024 49.79 1096th 2256 51.4%
See the entire list of Florida Elementary School Rankings!

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

South Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Open Quote The staff at South is amazing. From their amazing principal to the classroom teachers everyone cares about the child's success! Close Quote



Enrollment information for South Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 483 140 6 57 50 n/a n/a 0 736
1989 398 65 4 37 55 n/a n/a 0 559
1990 473 84 2 69 53 n/a n/a 0 681
1991 482 59 3 93 3 n/a n/a 0 640
1992 482 76 4 56 3 n/a n/a 0 621
1993 519 71 3 44 0 n/a n/a 0 637
1994 410 87 4 125 3 n/a n/a 0 629
1995 425 72 2 149 4 n/a n/a 0 652
1996 425 72 2 149 4 n/a n/a 0 652
1997 387 75 5 137 3 n/a n/a 0 607
1998 352 71 2 94 6 n/a n/a 0 525
1999 390 76 4 87 5 n/a n/a 0 562
2000 364 71 7 96 2 n/a n/a 0 540
2001 349 64 5 105 5 n/a n/a 0 528
2002 382 55 0 111 11 n/a n/a 0 559
2003 382 55 0 111 11 n/a n/a 0 559
2004 415 57 5 87 11 n/a n/a 0 575
2005 424 49 3 109 9 n/a n/a 0 594
2006 439 50 6 105 10 n/a n/a 0 610
2007 409 54 7 113 12 n/a n/a 23 618
2008 391 45 17 106 5 n/a n/a 21 585
2009 289 29 10 83 3 n/a n/a 13 427
2010 266 37 15 118 4 n/a n/a 12 452
2011 241 23 10 124 2 0 16 0 416
2012 231 31 7 158 2 0 12 0 441
2013 233 36 9 170 1 0 12 0 461
2014 246 37 2 163 1 0 12 0 461
2015 261 40 5 171 2 0 17 0 496
2016 266 34 5 140 1 0 14 0 460
2017 268 46 3 144 2 0 16 0 479
2018 273 52 5 155 1 0 25 0 511
2019 320 47 2 181 2 0 30 0 582
2020 356 43 5 176 1 0 35 0 616
2021 322 35 5 162 5 0 31 0 560
2022 361 44 4 195 8 0 34 0 646
2023 326 39 7 172 6 0 23 0 573

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 South Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 736 39.0 18.8 60.7
1989 559 33.0 16.9 45.6
1990 681 36.0 18.9 51.7
1991 640 33.0 19.3 48.9
1992 621 30.0 20.7 41.7
1993 637 33.0 19.3 40
1994 629 33.0 19.1 48.6
1995 652 34.0 19.2 48.9
1996 652 34.0 19.2 48.9
1997 607 31.0 19.6 49.1
1998 525 28.0 18.8 46.1
1999 562 28.0 20.1 48.6
2000 540 29.0 18.6 50
2001 528 27.0 19.6 49.4
2002 559 28.0 20.0 55.3
2003 559 28.0 20.0 55.3
2004 575 31.0 18.5 51.7
2005 594 32.0 18.6 54.9
2006 610 36.0 16.9 48.4
2007 618 37.0 16.7 46.7
2008 585 39.0 15.0 47
2009 427 33.5 14.2 59.4
2010 452 29.0 15.5 68.6
2011 416 29.0 14.3 69.2
2012 441 30.5 14.4 74.4
2013 461 29.0 15.8 72
2014 461 30.0 15.3 75.7
2015 496 31.0 16.0 77.8
2016 460 32.0 14.3 74.1
2017 479 31.0 15.4 78.9
2018 511 32.0 15.9 83.6
2019 582 27.0 21.5 54.1
2020 616 29.0 21.2 58.4
2021 560 33.3 16.7 55.4
2022 646 37.0 17.4 60.5
2023 573 36.0 15.9 61.4

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 South Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 736 39.0 18.8 60.7
1989 559 33.0 16.9 45.6
1990 681 36.0 18.9 51.7
1991 640 33.0 19.3 48.9
1992 621 30.0 20.7 41.7
1993 637 33.0 19.3 40
1994 629 33.0 19.1 48.6
1995 652 34.0 19.2 48.9
1996 652 34.0 19.2 48.9
1997 607 31.0 19.6 49.1
1998 525 28.0 18.8 46.1
1999 562 28.0 20.1 48.6
2000 540 29.0 18.6 50
2001 528 27.0 19.6 49.4
2002 559 28.0 20.0 55.3
2003 559 28.0 20.0 55.3
2004 575 31.0 18.5 51.7
2005 594 32.0 18.6 54.9
2006 610 36.0 16.9 48.4
2007 618 37.0 16.7 46.7
2008 585 39.0 15.0 47
2009 427 33.5 14.2 59.4
2010 452 29.0 15.5 68.6
2011 416 29.0 14.3 69.2
2012 441 30.5 14.4 74.4
2013 461 29.0 15.8 72
2014 461 30.0 15.3 75.7
2015 496 31.0 16.0 77.8
2016 460 32.0 14.3 74.1
2017 479 31.0 15.4 78.9
2018 511 32.0 15.9 83.6
2019 582 27.0 21.5 54.1
2020 616 29.0 21.2 58.4
2021 560 33.3 16.7 55.4
2022 646 37.0 17.4 60.5
2023 573 36.0 15.9 61.4

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 South Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $785 (9.0%) $7,963 (91.0%) $8,748
2019 $825 (10.1%) $7,355 (89.9%) $8,179
2020 $721 (9.1%) $7,213 (90.9%) $7,934
2021 $953 (10.8%) $7,883 (89.2%) $8,838
2022 $1,312 (14.4%) $7,793 (85.6%) $9,105
2023 $2,169 (19.3%) $9,042 (80.7%) $11,211

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South 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 1400th of 2182 Elementary schoolsRanks 1194th of 2240 Elementary schools
 10.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Elementary School)5252
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Okeechobee)5947
 12%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5853
 5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Elementary School)5955
 4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Okeechobee)6653
 13%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)6258
 4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Elementary School)4561
 16%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Okeechobee)4653
 7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5857
 1%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Elementary School)5962
 3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Okeechobee)6056
 4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6461
 3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South Elementary School)4340
 3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Okeechobee)5047
 3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5655
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (South Elementary School)5528
 27%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Okeechobee)5640
 16%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)6052
 8%
5th Grade Science (South Elementary School)4053
 13%
   5th Grade Science (Okeechobee)4442
 2%
   5th Grade Science (Florida)5351
 2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students582573
 1.5%
African American4739
 17%
American Indian26
 200%
Asian27
 250%
Hispanic181172
 5%
Pacific Islander00
White320326
 1.9%
Two or More Races3023
 23.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients54.1%61.4%
 7.3%

Schools Near South Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about South Elementary School

Students who attend South Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Osceola Middle School
High : Okeechobee High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 573 students attended South Elementary School.

South Elementary School ranks 1096th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at South Elementary School are 57% White, 30% Hispanic, 7% African American, 4% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian.


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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.




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