Below Average
#3188 of 3,778 schools in FL
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary
Elementary School · Bay · Panama City, FL
A Bay elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
1125 CHERRY ST, Panama City, FL 32401
- Math 41% vs FL 58% (2024)
- Reading 45% vs FL 54% (2024)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Merriam Cherry Street Elementary score 43% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
2024 FAST proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 43% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
75.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Merriam Cherry Street Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 36Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,841/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Panama City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$49,901
Median home value
$207,000
Median rent
$1,194/mo
College educated
19.9%
Homeownership
58.9%
Poverty rate
16.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 32401; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Nest Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | PK–12 | 0.3 mi | 43 | Compare → |
| Holy Nativity Episcopal SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | PK–8 | 0.5 mi | 239 | Compare → |
| Margaret K. Lewis in MillvilleEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 169 | Compare → |
| Oscar Patterson AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | PK–3 | 1.4 mi | 322 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Bay
- Schools in district
- 49
- Rank in district
- #35 of 44
- District spending per student
- $11,117NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary is listed in BAY; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Merriam Cherry Street Elementary
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary is a public elementary school in Panama City, FL, part of Bay, serving approximately 381 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #3,188 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Merriam Cherry Street Elementary
What grades does Merriam Cherry Street Elementary serve?
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Merriam Cherry Street Elementary?
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 381 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merriam Cherry Street Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Merriam Cherry Street Elementary is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Merriam Cherry Street Elementary rank in FL?
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary ranks #3,188 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Merriam Cherry Street Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Merriam Cherry Street Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Merriam Cherry Street Elementary has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Merriam Cherry Street Elementary a charter school?
No, Merriam Cherry Street Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Merriam Cherry Street Elementary a Title I school?
No, Merriam Cherry Street Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Merriam Cherry Street Elementary?
75.1% of students at Merriam Cherry Street Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 381
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Bay County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 49.9%
- Phone
- (850) 767-1480
- Area population (ZIP 32401)
- 18,394
- Area average commute
- 20.8 min
- Area median age
- 42.6
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 32401; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Florida 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in Jacksonville, Miami & Tampa for Families Exploring School Choicebest schools
- Best Schools in Jacksonville, FL — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Miami, FL — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Orlando, FL — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.