The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Math. The lowest is 60% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lake Butler Elementary School
Lake Butler Elementary sits at the center of a small, rural North Florida community that serves as the county seat of Union County, the smallest county in the state by area. The town's character is shaped by agriculture, timber, and corrections employment rather than suburban growth. The freshwater lake at the heart of town, the downtown rail-trail trailhead, and Lakeside Park with its splash park and fishing pier define daily life outside of school. Jacksonville is publicly reported as less than an hour away, with Gainesville, Starke, and Lake City each nearby, but the setting itself is rural and car-dependent with no fixed-route public transit.
The school serves children from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic context of the broader community. The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful shares of Black students and those identifying as two or more races; smaller numbers of Hispanic and Asian students attend as well. Data on English learner rates and students with IEPs was not available in the materials provided.
On Florida's FAST assessments, third and fourth graders show notably stronger results in math than in reading. Math proficiency in both tested grades sits well above the majority mark, a genuine strength worth naming. Reading proficiency in those same grades lands below the math results and, for both grades, below the majority threshold. A parent wanting to understand how the school is addressing reading development would be well-served by asking directly. Multi-year trend data was not available, so there is no way from this information alone to know whether performance has been improving or holding steady.
Two developments from the district significantly reshape the picture for any family choosing this school now. The first is a restructuring taking effect in the 2026-27 school year: fifth grade will move from the middle school back to Lake Butler Elementary, making this a Pre-K through fifth-grade campus. That is a direct change for families with children currently in the upper elementary years, and for anyone planning ahead, it means the elementary experience will extend one year longer than the current grade band suggests. At the same time, the middle school will consolidate with the high school to form a combined sixth through twelfth-grade campus. The second development is a state-declared financial emergency in 2026, placing the district's spending under Florida Department of Education oversight. A reported enrollment decline contributed to a budget deficit, the district reduced its staff by a substantial number of positions in the prior year, and further reorganization is underway. Publicly reported coverage indicates the financial emergency constrains spending and requires approval for new obligations. Families weighing long-term stability in staffing, programs, and extracurriculars would want to follow this situation closely.
The most forward-looking piece for elementary families is the planned construction of an entirely new Lake Butler Elementary building, funded through Florida's Special Facility Construction Account rather than the operating budget that is under emergency oversight. The state ranked this project at the top of its priority list for the relevant funding cycle, and the superintendent has publicly aimed for the new school to open around 2027. The new facility is intended to replace aging buildings and portable classrooms. Publicly reported sources indicate the construction funding is insulated from the financial emergency's constraints, meaning the timeline should be unaffected by the budget situation.
Housing in the area is notably more affordable than the Florida state benchmark, with the local home value sitting well below the statewide figure and also below the national figure. Year-over-year, local values have risen modestly while statewide values have dipped. Rental data was not available. The market reflects a mix of established homes, manufactured housing, and small rural subdivisions, with scattered new construction lots rather than any large master-planned development underway.
The comparison data for this school was limited by the fact that Union County contains only one district, making meaningful peer comparisons within the county impractical. State testing data for grades and subjects beyond third and fourth was not applicable because the school does not serve those grades. Graduation rate and chronic absenteeism comparisons did not apply or were unavailable.
See more original research from School Decision →