The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in English language arts. The lowest is 48% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kate M. Smith Elementary School
Kate M. Smith Elementary sits on South Boulevard in Chipley, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Washington County School District. Its enrollment is on the larger side for a rural elementary serving this grade band, drawing from a town that functions as a small panhandle county seat with a working, non-resort character rooted in timber, railroad, and government employment rather than tourism.
The school's racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with a meaningful share of Black students and smaller Hispanic and multiracial populations. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that reflects the broader economic profile of Chipley and Washington County, where health care, manufacturing, and public-sector jobs anchor the local economy. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs were not available in what was provided.
State testing results from Florida's FAST and Statewide Science Assessment give a mixed picture across grades three through five, the years when Florida tests elementary students. In third grade, math proficiency is solid, with the majority of students scoring at the proficient level. ELA at the same grade sits well above half. By fourth grade, both subjects pull back into the mid-range, and by fifth grade, math proficiency drops to a level where fewer than half of students are scoring proficient. Fifth-grade science results are below half as well, while ELA in grades four and five holds in the mid-fifties. Parents whose children are heading into the upper elementary grades may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students as the curriculum advances, particularly in math.
Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say from the provided information whether these results represent improvement, stability, or decline. The grade-level pattern is worth watching: the third-grade math result is a genuine strength, and the drop across subsequent grades is a gap a parent might want to discuss with teachers.
No program-specific offerings were reported for Kate M. Smith, and the AP and dual-enrollment framework that applies to high schools does not apply here. A graduation rate is not applicable, as this is an elementary school.
The district context adds a few things worth knowing. Washington County schools are completing a full K-12 English Language Arts curriculum replacement in 2026, which means the reading and writing instruction students at Kate M. Smith receive will change alongside new adopted materials. Separately, the school board has placed a tax-neutral referendum on the November 2026 ballot that would shift capital funding toward operating expenses, specifically targeting teacher and staff recruitment and retention, special-needs services, career and technical education, and technology. Whether that measure passes will shape classroom resources over the years following. Neither of these changes is unique to Kate M. Smith, but both affect what families experience district-wide.
The housing market in the Chipley area is meaningfully more affordable than Florida's statewide average, with home values well below the state benchmark. Values have dipped slightly in recent data. New construction is active primarily in the Sunny Hills area to the south, a platted community within the same ZIP code, with more limited new building within Chipley's incorporated limits. Renters will find the area among the more affordable markets in the state, though rental index data specific to this zip code was not available. Families relocating from higher-cost Florida metros will likely find the cost of entry considerably lower here.
Chipley itself is a car-dependent town. The downtown around Jackson Avenue holds a library branch, the county courthouse, local shops, and casual dining. Falling Waters State Park, just south of town, is a publicly reported community anchor. There is no fixed-route public transit.
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