ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY

ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY is one of the mid-sized elementary schools in ORANGE PARK, Florida, part of CLAY, with 665 students on its rolls from grades pre-K through 6.

CLAY comprises 50 schools with combined enrollment of 39,116 students; ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY is among them.

For racial and ethnic makeup, ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY records that White students make up the majority at 71%. Beyond that, the school reports 13% Hispanic, 7% multiracial, 5% Black, 5% Asian. That mix tracks the wider county fairly closely.

On the income-and-resources front, The school currently runs with 55 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 12.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.5:1, putting ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 33% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Clay County runs at roughly 54%, so the school's eligibility rate is lower than the surrounding baseline.

With demographic context factored in, ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 64.8%; this one delivers 89.1%, a residual of +24.3 points.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Clay County put median household income runs about $87,820, 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 8%. Across Clay County's 55 public schools (combined enrollment of about 38,806 students), ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY is one campus in the mix.

FLEMING ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL is the nearest neighboring public school, about 1.1 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. On composite proficiency, ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY comes 1st of 9 in the immediate cluster, above the nearby-schools average of 71.3%.

The school occupies a bedroom-community site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at ROBERT M. PATERSON ELEMENTARY has contracted 35%, going from 1,019 students in 2018 to 665 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 15.2:1 in 2018 to 12.2:1 today.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.