A closer look at Bennett C Russell Elementary School.
Bennett C. Russell Elementary, also known as Benny Russell, is the Cardinals' campus on Excalibur Way in Milton. Its school news documents a fourth- and fifth-grade chorus performance, kindergarten welcome activities and a 2025 Purple Star recognition.
The 2025–26 Florida DOE report classifies Bennett C Russell Elementary School in the elementary category, as a district public school in Santa Rosa County. Its accountability grade is C; it earned 53% of possible accountability points. The published grade sequence is C in 2023–24, C in 2024–25, and C in 2025–26.
From kindergarten welcome to upper-grade chorus at Benny Russell.
Our interpretation of published school information, not a campus inspection or an additional official rating.
Benny Russell's published news shows two useful ends of the elementary experience: a Kindergarten Sneak Peek for incoming students and chorus performances involving fourth and fifth grades. Our read is that these are concrete experiences a family can investigate. For a younger child, learning the classroom routine matters; for an older child, having an activity to grow into can matter just as much.
The school has also publicized Purple Star recognition. We would treat that as a reason to ask specific transition questions, especially with a midyear relocation, rather than assuming every child's adjustment will be the same. The strongest comparison is whether the school can explain a welcome plan for your child's grade and show how classroom support and extracurricular participation continue after the first week.
Why it may fit
Consider it closely when kindergarten entry or an elementary-school transfer is the immediate decision. An older child interested in singing has a specific program to discuss, rather than a general arts promise.
What to weigh
A past concert or welcome event documents an activity, not guaranteed current participation. Confirm the present chorus entry rules and ask what alternatives exist for younger grades or children who arrive after rehearsals begin.
Bennett C. Russell is commonly presented as Benny Russell, with the Cardinals identity and an Excalibur Way campus in Milton. Both names may appear in school communications.
Request a sample kindergarten transition plan or, for an older child, the current chorus schedule and a description of how students entering during the year can participate.
Based on Bennett C. Russell Elementary School school-published information ↗ · NCES school directory ↗. Confirm current programs and availability with the school.
What makes this school distinctive.
Upper-elementary chorus
The school's December 2025 news announced a concert by its fourth- and fifth-grade chorus; ask about this year's participation and rehearsal schedule.
School source ↗Starting kindergarten
The school publicizes a Kindergarten Sneak Peek for registered incoming students and separate Meet the Teacher events for younger and older grades.
School source ↗How the official results compare.
Its 53% overall points result is 5.5 percentage points below the 58.5% median among 12 other elementary schools in Santa Rosa County with reported data.
What the results suggest.
A consistent state classification
Three consecutive C grades give you a consistent accountability classification across the published years. That is useful context, but it does not show whether every subject, classroom or student made the same progress.
Where to look closer
The science result is 38%, 22 percentage points below its 60% local peer median. This is a specific area to discuss, rather than a verdict on the whole school. Ask how teachers identify a student who needs help, what support looks like during the week, and how progress is shared with families.
Calculated from the dated state results below. Peer gaps compare each subject with the same subject at other schools, not one subject with another. Measures can cover different student groups. They do not establish why a result occurred or the quality of a particular teacher.
| Measure | This school | Peer median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall accountability points | 53% | 58.5% (12 schools) | −5.5 pp |
| English language arts achievement | 57% | 62% (12 schools) | −5 pp |
| Mathematics achievement | 60% | 69% (12 schools) | −9 pp |
| Science achievement | 38% | 60% (12 schools) | −22 pp |
Swipe across the table to compare all columns.
Calculated from the linked Florida DOE release. The peer median is the middle school-level result, excludes this school, uses the same county and DOE school category, and ignores missing values. It is not weighted by enrollment. “pp” means percentage points. Graduation and acceleration measures use the cohorts specified by the state. Different measures describe different groups of students.
Use the results to identify questions, not to predict your child's experience. Programs, support, admissions and a campus visit can change which option fits your priorities. Read the state methodology ↗
Other schools to consider.
These are the nearest other report pages in the same county and Florida DOE school category, using recorded campus locations. Their placement is based on location and school format, not a recommendation or enrollment entitlement.
Pea Ridge Elementary School ↗
Directory grades PK–05 · NCES 2024-25. Confirm current entry grades.
Pea Ridge Elementary School reports 51% in science achievement, compared with 38% here. If this is a priority, ask how its instruction and support would serve your child. Worth examining for families trying to combine academic planning, a child's interests and before- or after-school arrangements. The published choices give several concrete starting points for a conversation about a workable week.
District school: confirm zoning, transfers and availability.Bagdad Elementary School ↗
Directory grades PK–05 · NCES 2024-25. Confirm current entry grades.
Compare Bagdad Elementary School's course options, student support and daily schedule with this school. A different program or learning format may matter more to your child than the overall grade. A useful school to examine closely when a family wants a clear connection between classroom reading goals and additional support. Bring recent work samples so the discussion can move beyond general descriptions.
District school: confirm zoning, transfers and availability.W. H. Rhodes Elementary School ↗
Directory grades PK–05 · NCES 2024-25. Confirm current entry grades.
W. H. Rhodes Elementary School reports 41% in science achievement, compared with 38% here. If this is a priority, ask how its instruction and support would serve your child. Worth investigating for a parent who wants practical materials and a clear explanation of how to support reading or math at home. Bring an example of work that shows what is currently easy or difficult.
District school: confirm zoning, transfers and availability.Campus-to-campus distances are straight-line estimates, not driving routes or distances from your home. Use the address search on the school map for a comparison from your own location. An alternative may be a better fit when its verified program, support or learning format aligns with your child's needs; a higher score in one measure does not settle that decision.
Enrollment and a useful school visit.
Use the school's enrollment link and confirm your home address with Santa Rosa County's official school zone locator. Program places and transfer requests need school or district confirmation. Enrollment resource ↗
- Can new fourth- or fifth-grade students join chorus during the year?
- How are kindergarten screening results used to plan classroom support?
Sources for this guide
School-specific research checked 2026-09-06. Accountability data: 2025–26, retrieved 2026-08-24. Directory information is dated separately above.