Summary:
The city of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, is served by six public schools within the Volusia County School District, including one high school, one middle school, and four elementary schools, offering a range of academic environments for families.
For parents, the standout school is Coronado Beach Elementary School, a 5-star academic powerhouse with top-tier test scores (often exceeding 80% proficiency) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (19.9%) among elementary schools. Chisholm Elementary School is a consistent 4-star performer with strong, balanced scores and a low absenteeism rate of 22.1%. In contrast, Samsula Academy presents a paradox: despite having the lowest poverty rate (6.62% free/reduced lunch), it is the lowest-performing elementary school, with volatile test scores and a recent decline from 4 stars to 2 stars. New Smyrna Beach High School excels in science (83% Biology 1 proficiency) but struggles with English Language Arts scores below district and state averages. New Smyrna Beach Middle School shows a stark split: it accelerates top students in advanced math (79% Algebra 1 proficiency) but leaves most behind, with only 34% of 7th graders proficient in grade-level math.
Key takeaways include a strong link between higher spending and performance—Coronado Beach spends the most per student ($12,970) and achieves the best results—while Samsula Academy’s high spending ($12,145) yields poor outcomes, suggesting money alone isn't the fix. Chronic absenteeism is a systemic issue, with the high school (39.4%) and middle school (35.8%) exceeding the state average (31.4%), likely driving lower academic achievement. Overall, families should prioritize Coronado Beach or Chisholm for elementary education, while noting the high school’s STEM strengths and the middle school’s need for better foundational math support.
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