CHESTER SHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

(352)481-1901

www.sbac.edu/shell

355 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Chester Shell Elementary School is a public school located in Hawthorne, Florida, serving students as part of the Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) district. Situated in a rural setting in the southeastern part of the county, the school serves as a cornerstone of the local community, dedicated to providing foundational education for children in the surrounding area. The school operates with the broader mission of the district, focusing on academic achievement, personal growth, and preparing students for success in their future educational endeavors.

As a participant in the Alachua County Public Schools system, Chester Shell Elementary benefits from the district’s comprehensive resources, curriculum standards, and commitment to inclusivity. The school environment typically emphasizes a supportive atmosphere where teachers and staff work to foster social-emotional development alongside core academic subjects like literacy, mathematics, and science. Through various school-wide initiatives and community engagement efforts, Chester Shell strives to maintain a safe, welcoming, and productive learning space for its diverse student body.

355

Total Students

25.1

Full-Time Teachers

14.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

60.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for CHESTER SHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Demographic	Student Count
White	179
Hispanic	20
Black	125
Asian	1
Two or More	30

White
179 (50.4 %)
Black
125 (35.2 %)
Two or More
30 (8.5 %)
Hispanic
20 (5.6 %)
Asian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	ALACHUA
Phone:	(352)481-1901
Website:	http://www.sbac.edu/shell
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	355
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	25.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	203
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	10

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 15

Kindergarten 50

Grade 1 44

Grade 2 55

Grade 3 71

Grade 4 61

Grade 5 59