Lancaster Elementary

Lancaster Elementary in Orlando, FL, is a public school serving 646 students from Pre-K through 5th grade in the Orange County district, where the majority of families face economic challenges. The school has historically ranked in the bottom 15-20% of Florida elementary schools, with a current 1-star state ranking, though there are a few bright spots worth noting.

One standout area is 4th-grade math, where 63% of students were proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—the highest score for any subject or grade at the school and competitive with the district average. This is a notable strength compared to nearby schools like Sally Ride Elementary (45%) and Sadler Elementary (56%). However, overall academic performance remains low, especially in English Language Arts, where only 36% of 5th graders were proficient—far below Shenandoah Elementary (59%) and Pershing School (61%). A persistent challenge is chronic absenteeism, with 35.8% of students missing significant school time, a rate much higher than high-performing nearby charters like Cornerstone Academy Charter (11.6%).

On a positive note, 5th-grade science scores have shown steady improvement, rising from 30% to 42% over three years, suggesting effective instruction in that subject. The school also spends $10,743 per student, which is in the middle range compared to peers—less than Winegard Elementary ($13,108) but more than Cornerstone Academy ($8,561). While the school faces significant hurdles, the 4th-grade math success and science gains offer potential models for future improvement.