Mary Esther Elementary School

Q: Is Mary Esther Elementary School a good school?

Mary Esther Elementary School ranks 1016 th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Mary Esther Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in the Okaloosa School District in Florida, with a student population of 441 as of the 2022-2023 school year.

While the school spends more per student than the district and state averages, it faces several challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates (26.3% compared to 20.8% for the district and 20.0% for the state), lower-than-average test scores (e.g., 5th grade science proficiency of 48% vs. 58% for the district and 53% for the state), and a high percentage of students (69.61%) qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Interestingly, nearby schools like Destin Elementary and Eglin Elementary have significantly higher test scores and lower chronic absenteeism rates, suggesting there is room for improvement at Mary Esther Elementary.

One notable outlier is Liza Jackson Preparatory School, a public charter school located just 0.72 miles from Mary Esther Elementary. Liza Jackson Preparatory consistently outperforms Mary Esther Elementary and the district/state averages on test scores, with 77-82% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 71-93% proficient in Math across grade levels. The school also has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate of 11.5%, highlighting the potential for improvement at Mary Esther Elementary.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy
Mary Esther, FL 32569

(850) 833-3371

District: Okaloosa

SchoolDigger Rank:
1016^th of 2,256 Florida Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,474

Students who attend Mary Esther Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Max Bruner Junior Middle School
High:	Fort Walton Beach High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.8

Number of students: 444

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.5%

Hispanic:

25.7%

African American:

18.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 67.6%

See top rated Florida elementary schools

Compare Mary Esther Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Mary Esther Elementary School ranks better than 55% of elementary schools in Florida. It also ranks 14^th among 20 ranked elementary schools in the Okaloosa School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.19. (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 Student population at Mary Esther Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (40.5%), Hispanic (25.7%), African American (18.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 67.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mary Esther Elementary School is 15.8, which is the 5^th best among 20 elementary schools in the Okaloosa School District. (See more...)

Compare Mary Esther Elementary School employs 28 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mary Esther Elementary School is $12,474, which is the 3^rd highest among 20 elementary schools in the Okaloosa School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Mary Esther Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Okaloosa:

SchoolDigger ranks Okaloosa 12^th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Mary Esther Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	FL State Percentile
2006	71.91	480^th	1688	71.6%
2007	70.74	521^st	1786	70.8%
2008	75.17	406^th	1789	77.3%
2009	69.42	549^th	1847	70.3%
2010	69.49	592^nd	1919	69.2%
2011	67.54	663^rd	1985	66.6%
2012	62.86	741^st	1984	62.7%
2013	52.80	945^th	2029	53.4%
2014	57.05	885^th	2064	57.1%
2016	73.62	525^th	2087	74.8%
2017	67.67	664^th	2112	68.6%
2018	58.62	848^th	2118	60.0%
2019	55.81	945^th	2182	56.7%
2021	47.20	1156^th	2247	48.6%
2022	43.88	1228^th	2219	44.7%
2023	56.71	924^th	2240	58.8%
2024	53.19	1016^th	2256	55.0%

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 Mary Esther Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	425	80	13	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	528
1989	482	89	8	11	4	n/a	n/a	0	594
1990	438	64	14	9	3	n/a	n/a	0	528
1991	462	61	14	18	3	n/a	n/a	0	558
1992	447	73	12	13	4	n/a	n/a	0	549
1993	447	60	24	7	2	n/a	n/a	0	540
1994	469	86	26	5	1	n/a	n/a	0	587
1995	360	66	34	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	476
1996	360	66	34	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	476
1997	378	67	28	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	489
1998	417	63	34	18	3	n/a	n/a	0	535
1999	412	57	36	24	5	n/a	n/a	0	534
2000	400	45	32	25	5	n/a	n/a	0	507
2001	408	57	23	22	6	n/a	n/a	0	516
2002	398	127	25	21	4	n/a	n/a	0	575
2003	398	127	25	21	4	n/a	n/a	0	575
2004	397	132	21	32	4	n/a	n/a	0	586
2005	367	136	32	27	5	n/a	n/a	0	567
2006	358	155	26	44	4	n/a	n/a	0	587
2007	278	102	29	54	4	n/a	n/a	66	533
2008	295	89	29	52	3	n/a	n/a	78	546
2009	291	95	29	57	2	n/a	n/a	74	548
2010	272	108	22	54	0	n/a	n/a	77	533
2011	267	135	18	67	6	8	65	0	566
2012	292	151	19	55	4	6	72	0	599
2013	305	160	13	64	5	2	63	0	612
2014	282	196	13	70	5	5	63	0	634
2015	275	153	11	64	4	5	74	0	586
2016	260	149	14	61	2	3	88	0	577
2017	271	156	13	67	3	2	86	0	598
2018	277	145	18	80	4	3	85	0	612
2019	266	139	17	76	2	5	76	0	581
2020	227	130	14	82	3	3	74	0	533
2021	200	120	10	84	1	3	75	0	493
2022	196	106	6	97	0	4	62	0	471
2023	189	91	3	105	0	4	49	0	441
2024	180	82	6	114	0	3	59	0	444

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 Mary Esther Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	528	29.0	18.2	25.2
1989	594	31.0	19.1	27.8
1990	528	30.0	17.6	26.5
1991	558	29.0	19.2	30.3
1992	549	29.0	18.9	21.1
1993	540	30.0	18.0	19.8
1994	587	30.0	19.6	20.3
1995	476	27.0	17.6	22.9
1996	476	27.0	17.6	22.9
1997	489	28.0	17.5	25.8
1998	535	30.0	17.8	21.1
1999	534	30.0	17.8	40.6
2000	507	30.0	16.9	35.3
2001	516	29.0	17.8	37
2002	575	32.0	18.0	39.7
2003	575	32.0	18.0	39.7
2004	586	33.0	17.8	45.9
2005	567	37.0	15.3	49
2006	587	38.0	15.4	43.8
2007	533	39.0	13.7	50.7
2008	546	39.0	14.0	51.9
2009	548	41.9	13.2	55.1
2010	533	39.5	13.4	61.2
2011	566	37.8	14.9	61
2012	599	40.2	14.9	63.9
2013	612	41.0	14.9	62.3
2014	634	42.0	15.0	64.5
2015	586	42.0	13.9	63.7
2016	577	42.0	13.7	65.9
2017	598	40.0	14.9	67.6
2018	612	38.0	16.1	63.4
2019	581	37.0	15.7	59.6
2020	533	32.0	16.6	61.5
2021	493	32.0	15.4	64.3
2022	471	31.0	15.1	63.3
2023	441	30.0	14.7	69.6
2024	444	28.0	15.8	67.6

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 Mary Esther Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	528	29.0	18.2	25.2
1989	594	31.0	19.1	27.8
1990	528	30.0	17.6	26.5
1991	558	29.0	19.2	30.3
1992	549	29.0	18.9	21.1
1993	540	30.0	18.0	19.8
1994	587	30.0	19.6	20.3
1995	476	27.0	17.6	22.9
1996	476	27.0	17.6	22.9
1997	489	28.0	17.5	25.8
1998	535	30.0	17.8	21.1
1999	534	30.0	17.8	40.6
2000	507	30.0	16.9	35.3
2001	516	29.0	17.8	37
2002	575	32.0	18.0	39.7
2003	575	32.0	18.0	39.7
2004	586	33.0	17.8	45.9
2005	567	37.0	15.3	49
2006	587	38.0	15.4	43.8
2007	533	39.0	13.7	50.7
2008	546	39.0	14.0	51.9
2009	548	41.9	13.2	55.1
2010	533	39.5	13.4	61.2
2011	566	37.8	14.9	61
2012	599	40.2	14.9	63.9
2013	612	41.0	14.9	62.3
2014	634	42.0	15.0	64.5
2015	586	42.0	13.9	63.7
2016	577	42.0	13.7	65.9
2017	598	40.0	14.9	67.6
2018	612	38.0	16.1	63.4
2019	581	37.0	15.7	59.6
2020	533	32.0	16.6	61.5
2021	493	32.0	15.4	64.3
2022	471	31.0	15.1	63.3
2023	441	30.0	14.7	69.6
2024	444	28.0	15.8	67.6

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 Mary Esther Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$725 (8.3%)	$8,041 (91.7%)	$8,766
2019	$732 (7.6%)	$8,843 (92.4%)	$9,575
2020	$831 (8.4%)	$9,091 (91.6%)	$9,922
2021	$1,368 (12.3%)	$9,711 (87.6%)	$11,080
2022	$2,632 (21.4%)	$9,646 (78.6%)	$12,277
2023	$2,788 (22.4%)	$9,687 (77.7%)	$12,474

Data source: Florida Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mary Esther 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 945^th of 2182 Elementary schools	Ranks 924^th of 2240 Elementary schools	2.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mary Esther Elementary School)	45	50	5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Okaloosa)	66	58	8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	53	5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mary Esther Elementary School)	52	50	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Okaloosa)	73	65	8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Florida)	62	58	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mary Esther Elementary School)	55	54	1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Okaloosa)	67	61	6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	58	57	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mary Esther Elementary School)	70	55	15%
4th Grade Mathematics (Okaloosa)	74	65	9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	64	61	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mary Esther Elementary School)	66	51	15%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Okaloosa)	67	62	5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)	56	55	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mary Esther Elementary School)	76	48	28%
5th Grade Mathematics (Okaloosa)	71	58	13%
5th Grade Mathematics (Florida)	60	52	8%
5th Grade Science (Mary Esther Elementary School)	54	50	4%
5th Grade Science (Okaloosa)	63	57	6%
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	581	441	24.1%
African American	139	91	34.5%
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	17	3	82.4%
Hispanic	76	105	38.2%
Pacific Islander	5	4	20%
White	266	189	28.9%
Two or More Races	76	49	35.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.6%	69.6%	10.1%

Schools Near Mary Esther 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)		EOC Algebra 1 (2024)	EOC Geometry (2024)	EOC Civics (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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mary Esther Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	320 E Miracle Strip Pkwy	Mary Esther	32569	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3371	444	28	15.8	67.6%	180 (40.5%)	82 (18.5%)	114 (25.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	59 (13.3%)	53.2	1016^th of 2256 public elementary schools	55.0%		56.7	924^th of 2240 public elementary schools	58.8%	92	51.0	51.0	52.0				61.0	65.0	60.0				48.0					$12,474	$2,788	$9,687
Annette P. Edwins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7 Wright Pkwy SW	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3333	464	27	17.1	74.6%	212 (45.7%)	79 (17.0%)	107 (23.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	63 (13.6%)	35	1489^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.0%		28.2	1656^th of 2240 public elementary schools	26.1%	167	37.0	49.0	45.0				55.0	47.0	55.0				38.0					$12,609	$3,033	$9,576
Wright Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	305 Lang Rd	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3580	590	37	15.9	73.9%	152 (25.8%)	80 (13.6%)	278 (47.1%)	19 (3.2%)	4 (0.7%)	3 (0.5%)	54 (9.2%)	22.2	1843^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	18.3%		36	1438^th of 2240 public elementary schools	35.8%	405	39.0	39.0	35.0				50.0	38.0	43.0				31.0					$10,988	$2,624	$8,364
Liza Jackson Preparatory School	Public, Charter	K-8	1123 Hospital Road	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 833-3321	977	60	16.2	22.5%	677 (69.3%)	72 (7.4%)	118 (12.1%)	31 (3.2%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	73 (7.5%)	88.3	223^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	90.1%		91.3	132^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	94.1%	91	77.0	76.0	77.0	82.0	79.0	80.0	74.0	71.0	81.0	88.0	82.0	93.0	74.0	69.0	100.0	100.0	95.0	$8,197	$763	$7,434
Elliott Point Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Hughes St NE	Fort Walton Beach	32548	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3355	598	33	18.1	70.7%	274 (45.8%)	85 (14.2%)	149 (24.9%)	7 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	81 (13.5%)	42.5	1278^th of 2256 public elementary schools	43.4%		36.7	1426^th of 2240 public elementary schools	36.3%	148	52.0	44.0	67.0				43.0	39.0	57.0				54.0					$11,216	$2,644	$8,573
Florosa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1700 W Highway 98	Mary Esther	32569	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4381	531	33	16.0	51.4%	271 (51.0%)	59 (11.1%)	112 (21.1%)	7 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	7 (1.3%)	74 (13.9%)	77.2	474^th of 2256 public elementary schools	79.0%		80.4	399^th of 2240 public elementary schools	82.2%	75	56.0	71.0	83.0				64.0	69.0	71.0				71.0					$10,711	$2,292	$8,419
Kenwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	15 Eagle St NE	Fort Walton Beach	32547	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-3570	525	35	15.0	59.4%	276 (52.6%)	62 (11.8%)	107 (20.4%)	12 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (12.8%)	59.9	866^th of 2256 public elementary schools	61.6%		61.9	797^th of 2240 public elementary schools	64.4%	69	61.0	67.0	51.0				64.0	72.0	55.0				44.0					$12,000	$2,575	$9,426
Longwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Holly Ave	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4329	574	30	19.1	73.9%	164 (28.6%)	82 (14.3%)	253 (44.1%)	13 (2.3%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	57 (9.9%)	19.9	1903^rd of 2256 public elementary schools	15.6%		27	1680^th of 2240 public elementary schools	25.0%	223	26.0	33.0	47.0				29.0	41.0	53.0				36.0					$12,606	$2,797	$9,808
Shalimar Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 Joe Martin Cir	Shalimar	32579	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 833-4339	589	31	19.0	63.5%	321 (54.5%)	69 (11.7%)	121 (20.5%)	14 (2.4%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (10.2%)	51.3	1066^th of 2256 public elementary schools	52.7%		47.3	1152^nd of 2240 public elementary schools	48.6%	86	60.0	48.0	55.0				73.0	50.0	55.0				42.0					$10,637	$2,576	$8,063
Eglin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	200 Gaffney Rd	Eglin Afb	32542	Okaloosa County	Okaloosa	No	No	No	No	(850) 833-4320	429	28	15.3	31.2%	186 (43.4%)	68 (15.9%)	101 (23.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	71 (16.6%)	77.5	464^th of 2256 public elementary schools	79.4%		82.7	347^th of 2240 public elementary schools	84.5%	117	68.0	58.0					78.0	73.0										$10,724	$1,929	$8,794

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Esther Elementary School

Is Mary Esther Elementary School a good school?

Mary Esther Elementary School ranks 1016^th of 2256 Florida elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Mary Esther Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mary Esther Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Max Bruner Junior Middle School
High : Fort Walton Beach High School

How many students attend Mary Esther Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 444 students attended Mary Esther Elementary School.

What district is Mary Esther Elementary School in?

Okaloosa

What is the racial makeup of Mary Esther Elementary School?

Students at Mary Esther Elementary School are 41% White, 26% Hispanic, 18% African American, 13% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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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.