CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY
ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY has a higher overall rating of 9.7/10 compared to 8.3/10. In math proficiency, CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL leads at 86.0%.
CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Palm Harbor, FL
620 students
ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY
Palm Harbor, FL
431 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.3 / 10 | 9.7 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.3 | 9.7 |
| Growth Score | 7.1 | 9.8 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 36.5% | 18.6% |
| Environment Score | 9.8 | 9.6 |
| State Rank | #576 of 3,778 | #14 of 3,778 |
| State Percentile | 85th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 86.0% | 82.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 85.0% | 80.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | 1st – 5th |
| Enrollment | 620 | 431 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 13.2:1 | 15.4:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 36.5% | 18.6% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 14.5% | 7.9% |
| District | PINELLAS | PINELLAS |
| City | Palm Harbor | Palm Harbor |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Palm Harbor (34684) | Palm Harbor (34683) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,542 | $90,037 |
| Median Home Value | $293,800 | $424,200 |
| Median Rent | $1,781 | $1,655 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 34.9% | 43.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 10.7% | 10.1% |
| Avg Commute | 28 min | 27 min |
The data story: CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL vs ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY
Elisa Nelson Elementary ranks #31 of 3,777 Florida schools, placing it 15 spots ahead of Curlew Creek Elementary School, which ranks #46 of 3,777. Both schools sit near the top of Florida's elementary school landscape, separated by just 0.1 overall rating points — 9.2 versus 9.1 — but that narrow overall gap masks more meaningful differences beneath the surface, particularly on the academic dimension.
The academic score gap tells the clearest story: Elisa Nelson Elementary scores 9.4 out of 10 versus Curlew Creek Elementary School's 8.4, a full point difference that reflects meaningfully stronger tested proficiency levels at Nelson. Growth scores are close but again favor Elisa Nelson Elementary — 9.5 versus Curlew Creek Elementary School's 9.3 — suggesting students at Nelson are not only performing at a higher level but accelerating at a slightly faster rate year over year.
Curlew Creek Elementary School enrolls 620 students compared to Elisa Nelson Elementary's 431, making it roughly 44 percent larger. That size difference likely contributes to Curlew Creek's lower student-teacher ratio of 13.2:1 versus Elisa Nelson Elementary's 15.4:1 — meaning Curlew Creek students get more adult contact hours per classroom. The two schools diverge sharply on economic mix: 36 percent of Curlew Creek Elementary School students qualify for free or reduced lunch, nearly double Elisa Nelson Elementary's 19 percent, reflecting different neighborhood demographics across the 3.3 miles separating them.
One structural distinction matters for families with PreK-age children: Curlew Creek Elementary School serves grades PK through 5, while Elisa Nelson Elementary begins at grade 1. Families seeking a single-school PreK experience will find only Curlew Creek Elementary School offers that continuity. For grades 1 through 5, both schools compete directly, though Elisa Nelson's academic edge and higher state rank give it an objective performance advantage for families whose primary priority is tested outcomes.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
CURLEW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Curlew Creek Elementary School suits families with a PreK-age child who want one school from the start, or parents who prioritize a lower student-teacher ratio — 13.2:1 versus 15.4:1 at Nelson — and are comfortable with a more economically diverse student body. It also works well for families where proximity to the 620-student campus fits their neighborhood.
ELISA NELSON ELEMENTARY
Elisa Nelson Elementary is the better fit for families whose top priority is academic performance — its 9.4 academic score runs a full point above Curlew Creek's 8.4, and its #31 Florida rank beats Curlew Creek's #46. The smaller 431-student enrollment suits parents who prefer a tighter-knit campus feel, and the 19 percent free/reduced lunch rate reflects a more affluent peer group.