Watergrass Elementary School

Q: Is Watergrass Elementary School a good school?

Watergrass Elementary School ranks 1084 th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Watergrass Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Wesley Chapel, Florida, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 865. The school is part of the Pasco District, which is ranked 42 out of 68 districts in Florida and is rated 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Watergrass Elementary has a more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (29.71%) and African American (13.18%) students. The school has consistently ranked in the middle range of Florida elementary schools, placing it in the middle 50% of the state. However, Watergrass has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 11.0% in 2018-2019 to 25.7% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the state and district averages. Academically, the school generally performs on par or slightly below the Pasco District and Florida state averages in English Language Arts and Math proficiency, but its 5th grade Science proficiency is higher than the district and state.

Watergrass Elementary's spending per student has decreased from $9,371 in 2020-2021 to $8,275 in 2022-2023, which is lower than the state average of around $8,500 per student. While Watergrass performs similarly to the district and state, some nearby schools, such as Union Park Charter Academy and Academy at the Farm, demonstrate higher academic achievement, particularly in math and science. By addressing the challenges of rising chronic absenteeism and learning from the successes of these higher-performing schools, Watergrass Elementary has the potential to improve student outcomes and better serve its community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

32750 Overpass Rd
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545

(813) 346-0600

District: Pasco

SchoolDigger Rank:
1084^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,275

Students who attend Watergrass Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Thomas E. Weightman Middle School
High:	Wesley Chapel High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 939

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.7%

Hispanic:

28.5%

African American:

14.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 32.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Watergrass Elementary School ranks better than 52% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 25^th among 57 ranked elementary schools in the Pasco School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.28. (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 Student population at Watergrass Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (43.7%), Hispanic (28.5%), African American (14%). (See more...)

Compare Details 32.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Watergrass Elementary School is 16.1. 34 elementary schools in the Pasco School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Watergrass Elementary School employs 58.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Watergrass Elementary School is $8,275. 50 elementary schools in the Pasco School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Pasco:

SchoolDigger ranks Pasco 42^nd of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Watergrass Elementary School.

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Rank History for Watergrass Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2011	60.00	838^th	1985	57.8%
2012	44.37	1125^th	1984	43.3%
2013	45.89	1097^th	2029	45.9%
2014	55.30	916^th	2064	55.6%
2016	54.84	936^th	2087	55.2%
2017	60.03	825^th	2112	60.9%
2018	62.03	774^th	2118	63.5%
2019	62.41	786^th	2182	64.0%
2021	61.70	816^th	2247	63.7%
2022	54.35	962^nd	2219	56.6%
2023	51.97	1047^th	2240	53.3%
2024	50.28	1084^th	2256	52.0%

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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, October 18, 2018

I absolutely love this school. Came from a highly rated elementary school that my older boys went to for 6 years and I can say Watergrass elementary is much better. My youngest started there in 2nd grade and is in his 3rd year. His grades went to excellent and is now on advanced class. The staff is just wonderful!!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Watergrass Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2010	203	95	14	140	1	n/a	n/a	20	473
2011	204	84	13	156	4	3	26	0	490
2012	215	84	13	164	1	1	23	0	501
2013	260	94	14	170	1	4	26	0	569
2014	345	118	21	217	1	5	33	0	740
2015	380	122	18	228	1	4	32	0	785
2016	276	109	16	177	1	3	37	0	619
2017	280	126	14	195	0	1	42	0	658
2018	266	115	11	191	0	2	36	0	621
2019	274	118	12	171	2	2	37	0	616
2020	298	111	11	154	3	1	40	0	618
2021	273	87	6	160	5	0	51	0	582
2022	339	94	10	210	4	0	60	0	717
2023	386	114	27	257	5	0	76	0	865
2024	410	131	30	268	8	1	91	0	939

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 Watergrass Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	473	38.5	12.2	56.3
2011	490	39.7	12.3	53.9
2012	501	41.3	12.1	53.9
2013	569	46.0	12.3	54.3
2014	740	52.0	14.2	46.6
2015	785	60.0	13.0	49.4
2016	619	51.0	12.1	53.6
2017	658	46.0	14.3	48.6
2018	621	46.0	13.5	55.7
2019	616	41.5	14.8	47.9
2020	618	41.7	14.8	46.8
2021	582	41.3	14.0	49
2022	717	43.2	16.5	45
2023	865	47.6	18.1	40.7
2024	939	58.3	16.1	32.8

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 Watergrass Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	473	38.5	12.2	56.3
2011	490	39.7	12.3	53.9
2012	501	41.3	12.1	53.9
2013	569	46.0	12.3	54.3
2014	740	52.0	14.2	46.6
2015	785	60.0	13.0	49.4
2016	619	51.0	12.1	53.6
2017	658	46.0	14.3	48.6
2018	621	46.0	13.5	55.7
2019	616	41.5	14.8	47.9
2020	618	41.7	14.8	46.8
2021	582	41.3	14.0	49
2022	717	43.2	16.5	45
2023	865	47.6	18.1	40.7
2024	939	58.3	16.1	32.8

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 Watergrass Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$515 (5.9%)	$8,198 (94.1%)	$8,713
2019	$554 (6.6%)	$7,848 (93.4%)	$8,401
2020	$464 (5.5%)	$7,930 (94.5%)	$8,394
2021	$840 (9.0%)	$8,532 (91.0%)	$9,371
2022	$1,272 (14.8%)	$7,322 (85.2%)	$8,594
2023	$1,446 (17.5%)	$6,830 (82.5%)	$8,275

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Watergrass 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 786^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 1047^th of 2240 Elementary schools	10.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Watergrass Elementary School)	78	63	15%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pasco)	60	53	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Watergrass Elementary School)	67	59	8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pasco)	59	52	7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Watergrass Elementary School)	69	59	10%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pasco)	59	57	2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Watergrass Elementary School)	72	58	14%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pasco)	62	56	6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Watergrass Elementary School)	53	54	1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pasco)	55	51	4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Watergrass Elementary School)	58	46	12%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pasco)	57	45	12%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Watergrass Elementary School)	51	49	2%
5th Grade Science (Pasco)	53	49	4%
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	616	865	40.4%
African American	118	114	3.4%
American Indian	2	5	150%
Asian	12	27	125%
Hispanic	171	257	50.3%
Pacific Islander	2	0	100%
White	274	386	40.9%
Two or More Races	37	76	105.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.9%	40.7%	7.2%

Schools Near Watergrass 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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Biology 1 (2024)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Watergrass Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	32750 Overpass Rd	Wesley Chapel	33545	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	No	(813) 346-0600	939	58	16.1	32.8%	410 (43.7%)	131 (14.0%)	268 (28.5%)	30 (3.2%)	8 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	91 (9.7%)	50.3	1084^th of 2256 public elementary schools	52.0%		52	1047^th of 2240 public elementary schools	53.3%	37	46.0	57.0	56.0				51.0	55.0	56.0				54.0						$8,275	$1,446	$6,830
Innovation Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	7800 Avery Scope View	Wesley Chapel	33545	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	No	(813) 551-0202	1,169	58	20.1	31.3%	410 (35.1%)	181 (15.5%)	394 (33.7%)	103 (8.8%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.5%)	73 (6.2%)	36.4	1450^th of 2256 public elementary schools	35.7%		53.6	1002^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	55.3%	448	51.0	50.0	41.0	53.0	46.0	53.0	47.0	47.0	17.0	46.0	54.0	82.0	56.0	63.0	87.0	100.0	100.0	73.0	$7,524	$538	$6,987
Academy At The Farm	Public, Charter	K-8	9500 Alex Lange Way	Dade City	33525	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	No	(352) 588-9737	727	48	15.0	19.5%	575 (79.1%)	10 (1.4%)	95 (13.1%)	19 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (3.9%)	87.8	230^th of 2256 public elementary schools	89.8%		85.2	280^th of 2240 public elementary schools	87.5%	50	80.0	75.0	78.0	70.0	71.0	74.0	88.0	72.0	86.0	77.0	81.0	93.0	75.0	80.0	100.0			85.0	$9,150	$808	$8,343
Wesley Chapel Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	30243 Wells Rd	Wesley Chapel	33545	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	No	(813) 794-0100	806	50	16.1	33.7%	371 (46.0%)	58 (7.2%)	234 (29.0%)	70 (8.7%)	4 (0.5%)	3 (0.4%)	66 (8.2%)	58.1	895^th of 2256 public elementary schools	60.3%		64.9	739^th of 2240 public elementary schools	67.0%	156	50.0	50.0	58.0				54.0	64.0	70.0	100.0			54.0						$8,624	$1,334	$7,290
New River Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4710 River Glen Blvd	Wesley Chapel	33545	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 346-0500	808	53	15.3	47.8%	275 (34.0%)	136 (16.8%)	285 (35.3%)	27 (3.3%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	81 (10.0%)	23.2	1819^th of 2256 public elementary schools	19.4%		26	1720^th of 2240 public elementary schools	23.2%	99	42.0	38.0	49.0				45.0	28.0	37.0	77.0			32.0						$9,253	$1,719	$7,533
Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel	Public, Charter	K-8	33347 Senior-54	Wesley Chapel	33543	Pasco County	Pasco	Yes	No	No	No	(813) 355-0002	1,259	66	19.0	36.0%	373 (29.6%)	155 (12.3%)	493 (39.2%)	153 (12.2%)	8 (0.6%)	4 (0.3%)	73 (5.8%)	79.3	431^st of 2256 public elementary schools	80.9%		68.7	650^th of 2240 public elementary schools	71.0%	219	68.0	72.0	71.0	77.0	62.0	66.0	77.0	69.0	66.0	73.0	62.0	75.0	56.0	65.0	82.0			73.0	$8,635	$438	$8,197
Double Branch Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	31500 Chancey Rd	Wesley Chapel	33543	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	No	(813) 346-0400	857	53	16.0	25.4%	451 (52.6%)	84 (9.8%)	200 (23.3%)	67 (7.8%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	52 (6.1%)	46.3	1194^th of 2256 public elementary schools	47.1%		46.3	1180^th of 2240 public elementary schools	47.3%	14	55.0	54.0	49.0				69.0	46.0	44.0	100.0			40.0						$8,126	$978	$7,148
Chester W. Taylor Junior Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3638 Morris Bridge Rd	Zephyrhills	33543	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 794-6900	705	49	14.4	65.5%	399 (56.6%)	52 (7.4%)	201 (28.5%)	6 (0.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.4%)	10.8	2131^st of 2256 public elementary schools	5.5%		19.3	1921^st of 2240 public elementary schools	14.2%	210	32.0	23.0	36.0				35.0	35.0	29.0				26.0						$10,025	$2,137	$7,888
Quail Hollow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7050 Quail Hollow Blvd	Zephyrhills	33544	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 794-1000	569	36	15.9	53.3%	279 (49.0%)	53 (9.3%)	174 (30.6%)	17 (3.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (7.9%)	31.4	1581^st of 2256 public elementary schools	29.9%		38.1	1383^rd of 2240 public elementary schools	38.3%	198	46.0	36.0	51.0				39.0	20.0	37.0	100.0			57.0						$10,431	$2,025	$8,406
West Zephyrhills Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	37900 14th Ave	Zephyrhills	33542	Pasco County	Pasco	No	No	No	Yes	(813) 794-6300	621	40	15.6	76.7%	303 (48.8%)	90 (14.5%)	152 (24.5%)	5 (0.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (11.1%)	10.9	2126^th of 2256 public elementary schools	5.8%		13.1	2080^th of 2240 public elementary schools	7.1%	46	37.0	29.0	34.0				32.0	32.0	20.0				30.0						$11,723	$2,682	$9,042

Frequently Asked Questions about Watergrass Elementary School

What district is Watergrass Elementary School in?

Pasco

What is the racial makeup of Watergrass Elementary School?

Students at Watergrass Elementary School are 44% White, 29% Hispanic, 14% African American, 10% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Watergrass Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Thomas E. Weightman Middle School
High : Wesley Chapel High School

How many students attend Watergrass Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 939 students attended Watergrass Elementary School.

Is Watergrass Elementary School a good school?

Watergrass Elementary School ranks 1084^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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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.