U.S. News & World Report released its list of Best K-8 schools nationwide on Oct. 28, ranking traditional and charter elementary and middle schools for parents looking for the best educational options in their area.
The elementary and middle schools were ranked based on student performance on state exams and math and reading proficiency rates.
Florida State University Schools outranked Tallahassee schools as No. 74 for Florida elementary schools, and as No. 96 for the state’s middle schools. On a separate ranking, it placed as No. 23 out of the state’s charter elementary schools and No. 47 for charter middle schools.
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It is the only Tallahassee school listed in the state’s top 100.
The school has a math proficiency rate of 83% and a reading proficiency rate of 72%. Proficiency rates measure how well students mastered subject content.
Third grade students at Ruediger Elementary School work independently on their assignments Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
More: Two Tallahassee high schools on U.S. News Top 100 list in Florida. Where do others fall?
Here’s a list of the city’s top 10 elementary and middle schools:
Top 10 elementary schools in Tallahassee
Florida State University Schools at No. 74, with a math proficiency of 83% and a reading proficiency of 72%.
Gilchrist Elementary School at No. 254, with a math proficiency of 77% and a reading proficiency of 83%.
Hawks Rise Elementary School at No. 332, with a math proficiency of 78% and a reading proficiency of 81%.
Buck Lake Elementary School at No. 573, with a math proficiency of 72% and a reading proficiency of 79%.
DeSoto Trail Elementary School at No. 633, with a math proficiency of 67% and a reading proficiency of 80%.
School of Arts and Sciences on Thomasville Road at No. 661, with a math proficiency of 65% and a reading proficiency of 76%.
Roberts Elementary School at No. 664, with a math proficiency of 70% and a reading proficiency of 74%.
Killearn Lakes Elementary School at No. 697, with a math proficiency of 70% and a reading proficiency of 76%.
Bond Elementary School at No. 1044, with a math proficiency of 66% and a reading proficiency of 38%.
School of Arts and Sciences at the Centre at No. 1,200, with a math proficiency of 60% and a reading proficiency of 69%.
Top 10 middle schools in Tallahassee
Raa Middle School students use the crosswalk on their way to school on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Florida State University Schools at No. 96, with a math proficiency of 83% and a reading proficiency of 72%.
Deerlake Middle School at No. 122, with a math proficiency of 85% and a reading proficiency of 74%.
Montford Middle School at No. 203, with a math proficiency of 83% and a reading proficiency of 66%.
School of Arts and Sciences on Thomasville Road at No. 300, with a math proficiency of 65% and a reading proficiency of 76%.
Swift Creek Middle School at No. 381, with a math proficiency of 72% and a reading proficiency of 57%.
Tallahassee School of Math and Science at No. 416, with a math proficiency of 50% and a reading proficiency of 52%.
Raa Middle School at No. 684, with a math proficiency of 47% and a reading proficiency of 51%.
Ft. Braden School at No. 728, with a math proficiency of 37% and a reading proficiency of 35%.
Fairview Middle School at No. 741, with a math proficiency of 45% and a reading proficiency of 47%.
Florida A&M University Developmental Research School at No. 746, with a math proficiency of 28% and a reading proficiency of 41%.
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Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida K-8 school rankings weigh Tallahassee schools