The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Math. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Peace River Elementary School
Peace River Elementary sits on Beaver Lane in Port Charlotte, a sprawling, car-dependent unincorporated community on Florida's Gulf Coast. The school serves prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public elementary within Charlotte County Public Schools, the only district in the county. Enrollment puts it in a moderate-sized range for its grade band.
The student body is economically mixed, leaning toward need: a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a meaningful piece of context for reading the academic results. Racially, the school reflects a broad mix, with white students making up roughly half, Hispanic students about a fifth, Black students representing the next largest group, and students of two or more races, Asian students, and others present as well. Data on English learners and students with IEPs was not available in what was provided.
On Florida's FAST assessments in the most recent reported year, proficiency rates across grades and subjects run in the lower-to-mid range compared with state norms. In math, third and fourth graders scored around the mid-forties in proficiency, while fifth graders came in noticeably lower. ELA results followed a similar pattern across those three grade levels, with third and fourth grade sitting in the low-to-mid forties and fifth grade again somewhat lower. The fifth-grade science assessment, which is the only state science test at this grade band, showed less than a third of students reaching proficiency. Trend data was not available in what was provided, so it is not possible to say whether these figures represent improvement, decline, or stability. Parents who want a fuller picture of growth and trajectory may want to ask the school directly.
No program listings were provided, so it is not possible to describe particular academic offerings, enrichment activities, or support structures at the school. That is a notable gap for families weighing fit, and a conversation with the school or the district is worth having.
Within Charlotte County, a comparison across districts was not meaningful because the county contains only one district, so no peer positioning is available.
At the district level, a few things matter for families. Charlotte County Public Schools publicly reported earning its highest state grade in over a decade for the 2024-25 school year, with more A-rated schools than before and no low-rated schools. The district is also backed by a voter-approved property tax running through the 2026-27 school year, with renewal expected on the November 2026 ballot, that funds teacher salaries, school security, and arts programming. That funding picture is something families should watch, since programs tied to it depend on continued voter support. Hurricane Ian caused significant damage to district facilities in 2022, and the long-term capital situation at some campuses remains unresolved.
The community around the school is growing steadily. Port Charlotte and the broader county have seen substantial housing growth in recent years, with more units forecast through 2030. That growth is reshaping the Murdock area nearby, where a large master-planned community is well underway and mixed-use redevelopment of older commercial properties is ongoing. The housing market in the zip code has seen home values decline noticeably over the past year, landing well below the state median, while rents have been roughly flat. For families buying, the price-to-income ratio sits close to the national average, which is relatively accessible by Florida standards right now.
Port Charlotte itself offers practical amenities, including a large county recreation complex with a competition pool, a public library branch, and a free shared-ride transit service that operates on weekdays and Saturdays. The area is not walkable and requires a car for daily life. The healthcare sector, county schools, and county government are the primary employment anchors.
Chronic absenteeism data and discipline data were not available in what was provided; those are worth asking the school about, since absenteeism in particular has a strong relationship with elementary reading outcomes.
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