Five public elementary schools in Pinellas County received C+ overall grades in Niche’s latest evaluations—the lowest overall marks among the county’s graded entries.
The 2027 evaluations put four St. Petersburg schools and one Pinellas Park campus in a tie. But their report cards sit alongside some distinctive offerings, including student journalism, performing arts and a garden that doubles as a classroom.
All five appear below because they share the same grade. Their alphabetical order doesn’t indicate a difference in performance.
Fairmount Park Elementary School, St. Petersburg — Overall Niche Grade: C+
Fairmount Park’s offerings include extra help with the fundamentals—and opportunities beyond them.
The Pinellas County Schools campus serves prekindergarten through fifth grade. Its Niche profile lists approximately 425 students and a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio. That ratio measures students against full-time-equivalent teachers, rather than the number of children in an average classroom.
The school’s published programs include extended-day tutoring in reading and math, Reading Recovery and services for students with specific learning needs.
Its school overview also lists a STEM academy, a garden project, chorus and a student morning news program.
The combination gives families two useful areas to investigate: support for children who need additional instruction and enrichment that lets students explore their interests.
Lakewood Elementary School, St. Petersburg — Overall Niche Grade: C+
Strings, dance, gardening and digital arts help give Lakewood an identity that extends beyond its overall grade.
The prekindergarten-through-fifth-grade school belongs to Pinellas County Schools. Its Niche profile reports approximately 446 students and a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
Lakewood’s official school information describes its wellness and performing arts magnet program, along with a student newspaper, morning news show and after-school activities. The school also lists opportunities involving photography, percussion and capoeira.
For families weighing their options, that creative emphasis is worth a closer look. The practical question is how those activities fit into a child’s day—and how the school combines them with academic instruction and support.
The C+ identifies Niche’s overall assessment; the program details help explain what attending Lakewood could actually look like.
Maximo Elementary School, St. Petersburg — Overall Niche Grade: C+
At Maximo, some learning happens in the garden.
The school lists a community garden integrated into instruction among its points of pride, alongside a book-distribution program and college tours for fourth and fifth graders. Television production and chorus provide other outlets for students’ interests.
Serving prekindergarten through fifth grade within Pinellas County Schools, Maximo has approximately 339 students and a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio, according to its Niche profile.
Its official overview also describes an extended learning program offering additional reading and math instruction, plus gifted education.
That mix of support and enrichment is a useful starting point for families. It provides specific programs to discuss with staff, rather than leaving parents to make a decision from an overall grade alone.
Melrose Elementary School, St. Petersburg — Overall Niche Grade: C+
Melrose students don’t have to wait until high school to start reporting the news.
The St. Petersburg magnet school’s journalism and multimedia program introduces children to interviewing, photography, writing and broadcasting. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade produce work for publication in print and online.
The Pinellas County Schools campus serves prekindergarten through fifth grade overall. Its Niche profile lists approximately 356 students and a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
For a child who likes telling stories—or asking the questions adults haven’t thought of yet—the journalism focus could be a meaningful consideration.
Families can examine students’ published work and ask how reporting assignments develop reading, writing and communication skills. It’s a concrete way to look beyond the overall C+ and examine the learning taking place.
Pinellas Park Elementary School, Pinellas Park — Overall Niche Grade: C+
Pinellas Park Elementary families have another development to follow alongside the school’s report card: a proposed change to the campus.
The district’s Planning for Progress FAQ lists a recommendation to close the existing school and open a fundamental K–5 school on the property beginning in 2027–28. That proposal is separate from Niche’s evaluation.
The operating school serves prekindergarten through fifth grade within Pinellas County Schools. Its Niche profile lists approximately 435 students and a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
For parents planning ahead, the district’s decisions could have immediate practical significance. Enrollment arrangements, program offerings and the proposed transition deserve attention alongside academic information.
Families should follow the planning process for the latest decisions affecting the school.
Niche’s elementary school methodology considers academics, teachers, district quality, culture and diversity, and parent or student feedback. These overall evaluations are broader than test scores alone and separate from Florida’s state-issued school grades.
Selection note: Niche’s 2027 county listing contains 96 entries, including six without overall grades. The five schools featured here share the lowest overall grade among the 90 graded entries; all five are included because they are tied.
For families, the next step is to connect the information with their child’s needs. Look at student work, ask how progress is measured and visit the programs that interest you.
A report card can help start the school search; a conversation with the people teaching your child can make it much more useful.
