Zolfo Springs Elementary School

Q: Is Zolfo Springs Elementary School a good school?

Zolfo Springs Elementary School ranks 1474 th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Zolfo Springs Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 590 students in grades PK-5 in Zolfo Springs, Florida, which is part of the Hardee School District. The school faces several key challenges, including a significantly higher Hispanic student population, elevated chronic absenteeism, and consistently lower test scores compared to state and district averages.

Zolfo Springs Elementary School stands out from nearby schools in the Hardee School District, such as Bowling Green Elementary School and Hilltop Elementary School, with its 57.12% Hispanic student population, which is much higher than the state average of 23.6%. The school has also experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 7.5% in 2019-2020 to 34.2% in 2022-2023, significantly higher than the state average and nearby schools.

Academically, Zolfo Springs Elementary School's test scores are generally lower than the state and Hardee School District averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, the school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate was 40% in 2023-2024, compared to the state average of 53%. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 60.17% to 78.81% over the past few years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Addressing these underlying issues may be crucial in improving student outcomes at Zolfo Springs Elementary School.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

3215 School House Rd
Zolfo Springs, FL 33890

(863) 773-5473

District: Hardee

SchoolDigger Rank:
1474^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,274

Students who attend Zolfo Springs Elementary School usually attend:

High:	Hardee Junior High School
	Hardee Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.4

Number of students: 550

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

58.4%

White:

36.7%

African American:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 72.2%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Zolfo Springs Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Zolfo Springs Elementary School ranks worse than 65.3% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 2^nd among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Hardee School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 35.5. (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 Racial makeup is: Hispanic (58.4%), White (36.7%), African American (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 72.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Hardee School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Zolfo Springs Elementary School is 14.4, which is the 2^nd best among 5 elementary schools in the Hardee School District. (See more...)

Compare Zolfo Springs Elementary School employs 38 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Zolfo Springs Elementary School is $11,274. 4 elementary schools in the Hardee School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Hardee:

SchoolDigger ranks Hardee 55^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Zolfo Springs Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	23.51	1348^th	1688	20.1%
2007	62.84	699^th	1786	60.9%
2008	57.80	785^th	1789	56.1%
2009	58.64	801^st	1847	56.6%
2010	32.73	1382^nd	1919	28.0%
2011	31.90	1445^th	1985	27.2%
2012	37.35	1275^th	1984	35.7%
2013	48.59	1039^th	2029	48.8%
2014	51.02	1008^th	2064	51.2%
2016	49.32	1055^th	2087	49.4%
2017	45.54	1156^th	2112	45.3%
2018	56.89	879^th	2118	58.5%
2019	54.40	984^th	2182	54.9%
2021	65.43	748^th	2247	66.7%
2022	55.88	936^th	2219	57.8%
2023	37.94	1387^th	2240	38.1%
2024	35.50	1474^th	2256	34.7%

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

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Enrollment information for Zolfo Springs Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	284	26	0	167	4	n/a	n/a	0	481
1989	310	27	1	190	0	n/a	n/a	0	528
1990	339	25	0	213	4	n/a	n/a	0	581
1991	312	27	6	241	3	n/a	n/a	0	589
1992	295	29	2	223	3	n/a	n/a	0	552
1993	296	21	5	281	5	n/a	n/a	0	608
1994	283	20	1	323	2	n/a	n/a	0	629
1995	265	15	1	338	1	n/a	n/a	0	620
1996	265	15	1	338	1	n/a	n/a	0	620
1997	273	16	2	437	3	n/a	n/a	0	731
1998	284	16	1	381	1	n/a	n/a	0	683
1999	272	18	1	404	0	n/a	n/a	0	695
2000	264	18	3	397	0	n/a	n/a	0	682
2001	253	17	7	396	2	n/a	n/a	0	675
2002	243	6	11	352	0	n/a	n/a	0	612
2003	243	6	11	352	0	n/a	n/a	0	612
2004	241	9	15	370	3	n/a	n/a	0	638
2005	236	4	14	360	2	n/a	n/a	0	616
2006	248	5	23	350	1	n/a	n/a	0	627
2007	209	8	22	328	0	n/a	n/a	4	571
2008	178	8	24	283	1	n/a	n/a	3	497
2009	180	13	18	300	0	n/a	n/a	2	513
2010	191	14	17	283	6	n/a	n/a	15	526
2011	199	14	15	287	6	0	12	0	533
2012	223	13	12	288	14	1	6	0	557
2013	210	7	15	308	12	1	4	0	557
2014	201	7	10	319	9	1	5	0	552
2015	206	9	10	345	8	1	3	0	582
2016	178	13	8	347	8	0	8	0	562
2017	206	15	8	340	6	0	8	0	583
2018	188	9	8	368	2	0	12	0	587
2019	185	5	1	357	0	0	9	0	557
2020	174	10	2	357	0	0	11	0	554
2021	184	13	4	340	0	0	9	0	550
2022	219	15	3	349	0	0	9	0	595
2023	222	14	8	337	0	0	9	0	590
2024	202	11	5	321	0	0	11	0	550

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 Zolfo Springs Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	481	28.0	17.1	69.2
1989	528	28.0	18.8	63.4
1990	581	31.0	18.7	64
1991	589	33.0	17.8	71.6
1992	552	34.0	16.2	64.7
1993	608	34.0	17.9	69.4
1994	629	35.0	18.0	72.7
1995	620	37.0	16.8	51
1996	620	37.0	16.8	51
1997	731	38.0	19.2	39.9
1998	683	38.0	18.0	79.9
1999	695	38.0	18.3	81.3
2000	682	36.0	18.9	66.6
2001	675	38.0	17.8	84.9
2002	612	37.0	16.5	83.3
2003	612	37.0	16.5	83.3
2004	638	35.0	18.2	85.1
2005	616	38.0	16.2	81
2006	627	40.0	15.7	73
2007	571	38.0	15.0	74.1
2008	497	40.5	12.3	77.5
2009	513	37.6	14.7	80.4
2010	526	35.0	15.0	80
2011	533	38.0	14.0	81.2
2012	557	38.0	14.6	83.8
2013	557	40.0	13.9	81.5
2014	552	37.0	14.9	84.8
2015	582	39.0	14.9	85.6
2016	562	39.0	14.4	76.5
2017	583	39.0	14.9	67.9
2018	587	41.0	14.3	73.1
2019	557	38.0	14.6	67.5
2020	554	38.0	14.5	68.2
2021	550	38.0	14.4	70.5
2022	595	38.0	15.6	60.2
2023	590	41.0	14.3	78.8
2024	550	38.0	14.4	72.2

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 Zolfo Springs Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	481	28.0	17.1	69.2
1989	528	28.0	18.8	63.4
1990	581	31.0	18.7	64
1991	589	33.0	17.8	71.6
1992	552	34.0	16.2	64.7
1993	608	34.0	17.9	69.4
1994	629	35.0	18.0	72.7
1995	620	37.0	16.8	51
1996	620	37.0	16.8	51
1997	731	38.0	19.2	39.9
1998	683	38.0	18.0	79.9
1999	695	38.0	18.3	81.3
2000	682	36.0	18.9	66.6
2001	675	38.0	17.8	84.9
2002	612	37.0	16.5	83.3
2003	612	37.0	16.5	83.3
2004	638	35.0	18.2	85.1
2005	616	38.0	16.2	81
2006	627	40.0	15.7	73
2007	571	38.0	15.0	74.1
2008	497	40.5	12.3	77.5
2009	513	37.6	14.7	80.4
2010	526	35.0	15.0	80
2011	533	38.0	14.0	81.2
2012	557	38.0	14.6	83.8
2013	557	40.0	13.9	81.5
2014	552	37.0	14.9	84.8
2015	582	39.0	14.9	85.6
2016	562	39.0	14.4	76.5
2017	583	39.0	14.9	67.9
2018	587	41.0	14.3	73.1
2019	557	38.0	14.6	67.5
2020	554	38.0	14.5	68.2
2021	550	38.0	14.4	70.5
2022	595	38.0	15.6	60.2
2023	590	41.0	14.3	78.8
2024	550	38.0	14.4	72.2

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 Zolfo Springs Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$1,035 (11.8%)	$7,766 (88.2%)	$8,801
2019	$1,009 (10.5%)	$8,599 (89.5%)	$9,607
2020	$1,065 (11.6%)	$8,141 (88.4%)	$9,205
2021	$1,437 (15.2%)	$8,045 (84.8%)	$9,482
2022	$1,863 (19.5%)	$7,670 (80.4%)	$9,534
2023	$2,746 (24.4%)	$8,529 (75.7%)	$11,274

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Zolfo Springs 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 984^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 1387^th of 2240 Elementary schools	16.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	53	45	8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hardee)	59	47	12%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	67	55	12%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Hardee)	69	58	11%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	56	59	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee)	57	57
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	71	69	2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Hardee)	73	68	5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	54	54
5th Grade English Language Arts (Hardee)	48	54	6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	77	65	12%
5th Grade Mathematics (Hardee)	62	59	3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Zolfo Springs Elementary School)	37	27	10%
5th Grade Science (Hardee)	42	35	7%
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	557	590	5.9%
African American	5	14	180%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	8	700%
Hispanic	357	337	5.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	185	222	20%
Two or More Races	9	9
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	67.5%	78.8%	11.3%

Schools Near Zolfo Springs 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)	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 Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Zolfo Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3215 School House Rd	Zolfo Springs	33890	Hardee County	Hardee	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 773-5473	550	38	14.4	72.2%	202 (36.7%)	11 (2.0%)	321 (58.4%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.0%)	35.5	1474^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.7%		37.9	1387^th of 2240 public elementary schools	38.1%	87	51.0	49.0	34.0	56.0	52.0	43.0	40.0	$11,274	$2,746	$8,529
Wauchula Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	400 S Florida Ave	Wauchula	33873	Hardee County	Hardee	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 773-3141	572	41	13.9	65.0%	187 (32.7%)	55 (9.6%)	314 (54.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.4%)	57.6	906^th of 2256 public elementary schools	59.8%		61.4	805^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.1%	101	63.0	57.0	50.0	64.0	65.0	55.0	43.0	$11,549	$2,669	$8,880
Hardee Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)	Public, Virtual	K-5	1009 N 6th Ave	Wauchula	33873	Hardee County	Hardee	No	No	Yes	No	(863) 773-9058	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
North Wauchula Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1120 N Florida Ave	Wauchula	33873	Hardee County	Hardee	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 773-2183	545	37	14.7	66.6%	153 (28.1%)	48 (8.8%)	332 (60.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.8%)	31.4	1582^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	29.9%		42.8	1259^th of 2240 public elementary schools	43.8%	323	46.0	50.0	38.0	49.0	51.0	38.0	36.0	$12,343	$3,086	$9,258
Hilltop Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2401 Us Highway 17 N	Wauchula	33873	Hardee County	Hardee	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 773-2750	264	17	15.5	72.0%	52 (19.7%)	10 (3.8%)	186 (70.5%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.4%)	31.9	1567^th of 2256 public elementary schools	30.5%		33	1525^th of 2240 public elementary schools	31.9%	42	41.0	37.0	47.0	33.0	65.0	51.0	35.0	$12,524	$3,571	$8,953
Bowling Green Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4530 Church Ave	Bowling Green	33834	Hardee County	Hardee	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 773-5471	291	20	14.5	66.3%	84 (28.9%)	13 (4.5%)	191 (65.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34.6	1501^st of 2256 public elementary schools	33.5%		39.1	1357^th of 2240 public elementary schools	39.4%	144	47.0	40.0	45.0	36.0	53.0	64.0	42.0	$14,807	$4,159	$10,648
Sun 'n Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4515 Ponce De Leon Blvd	Sebring	33872	Highlands County	Highlands	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 471-5464	590	33	17.8	76.1%	230 (39.0%)	143 (24.2%)	159 (26.9%)	22 (3.7%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	31 (5.3%)	65.8	730^th of 2256 public elementary schools	67.6%		61.7	801^st of 2240 public elementary schools	64.2%	71	67.0	53.0	61.0	67.0	62.0	63.0	59.0	$10,756	$3,097	$7,659
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	610 Charleston Ave S	Fort Meade	33841	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 285-1133	587	38	15.4	79.9%	178 (30.3%)	70 (11.9%)	325 (55.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.2%)	27.4	1701^st of 2256 public elementary schools	24.6%		34.1	1495^th of 2240 public elementary schools	33.3%	206	43.0	42.0	32.0	46.0	50.0	41.0	43.0	$11,889	$1,962	$9,927
Memorial Elementary School	Public	K-5	867 Memorial Dr	Avon Park	33825	Highlands County	Highlands	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 784-0200	508	35	14.7	86.4%	148 (29.1%)	130 (25.6%)	198 (39.0%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.1%)	35.9	1459^th of 2256 public elementary schools	35.3%		40.2	1334^th of 2240 public elementary schools	40.4%	125	49.0	45.0	44.0	51.0	53.0	46.0	43.0	$10,803	$2,407	$8,395
Avon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	705 Winthrop St	Avon Park	33825	Highlands County	Highlands	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 452-4355	553	29	19.4	86.1%	138 (25.0%)	115 (20.8%)	276 (49.9%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.8%)	35.8	1466^th of 2256 public elementary schools	35.0%		33.3	1511^th of 2240 public elementary schools	32.5%	45	57.0	42.0	37.0	66.0	52.0	40.0	37.0	$11,771	$3,676	$8,095

Frequently Asked Questions about Zolfo Springs Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Zolfo Springs Elementary School?

Students at Zolfo Springs Elementary School are 58% Hispanic, 37% White, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races.

How many students attend Zolfo Springs Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 550 students attended Zolfo Springs Elementary School.

What district is Zolfo Springs Elementary School in?

Hardee

What schools do graduates of Zolfo Springs Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Zolfo Springs Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Hardee Junior High School
High : Hardee Senior High School

Is Zolfo Springs Elementary School a good school?

Zolfo Springs Elementary School ranks 1474^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 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.