The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Taylor County Elementary School
Taylor County Elementary School sits on East Green Street in Perry, the county seat of Taylor County in Florida's Big Bend region. It serves grades three through five, and the enrollment data reflects only those three grade levels despite the school's official span of kindergarten through fifth grade. Data for kindergarten, first, and second grades shows zero enrollment, which likely means those grades are handled at a separate facility or feeder school within the Taylor district rather than at this campus. A parent new to the area should confirm grade placement directly with the district.
The school's student body is primarily white, with a substantial Black student population and smaller shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. The most telling economic marker is that a very large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, well above what you'd see at many Florida elementary schools. IEP and English learner rates were not available in the data provided.
On Florida's FAST assessments for the most recent school year, the picture varies by grade and subject. Third-grade math was the clearest bright spot, with a majority of students reaching proficiency, a meaningful result in a school with this economic profile. Reading in third grade came in just above half of students, which is a reasonable benchmark at that level. Fourth and fifth grade results in both math and ELA were lower, with less than half of students reaching proficiency in several of those grade-level combinations. Fifth-grade science came in similarly, just under half. These are not unusual patterns for a high-poverty rural elementary school, but parents with concerns about grade-level readiness heading into middle school may want to ask the school directly about intervention supports and how students in the fourth and fifth grade bands are being caught up.
No trend data across multiple years was available, so there is no way to characterize whether scores are improving, flat, or declining. Comparison data was not usable for proficiency rankings because Taylor County has only one district, making a meaningful within-county comparison impossible. Civil rights and discipline data were not available.
The community and financial context matters here. Hurricane Idalia made a direct hit on Taylor County in August 2023, and the damage to district facilities was extensive. Publicly reported accounts indicate that roof repairs became a major and unresolved financial burden after some FEMA claims were denied, leaving the district facing a substantial ongoing obligation. That financial strain has real implications for facility conditions and budget priorities, and families weighing a move to Perry should factor in that the district is navigating a long recovery. Separately, a half-cent school sales surtax is publicly reported to be heading to voters on the November 2026 ballot, and if passed it would generate recurring revenue for facilities, security, technology, and transportation. Whether that measure succeeds will matter considerably for the district's capital capacity over the next several years.
Housing in the Perry area sits well below the Florida state median and below national median home values, with modest year-over-year appreciation. For families relocating from higher-cost markets, the affordability is real. Rental data was not available. Specific information about Perry's employers, walkability, and community character was not returned in the research gathered for this profile, so those dimensions are left out rather than filled in.
The locale brief for Perry and broader information about the Taylor district's programming and staffing came back with limited detail. Families considering this school would benefit from a direct visit and conversation with school staff, particularly around grade placement for K-2 students, intervention supports for upper-elementary learners, and how the district's post-Idalia recovery is affecting day-to-day operations at this campus.
See more original research from School Decision →