Best Public Schools in Citrus Springs, FL

The city of Citrus Springs, Florida, is served by three public schools within the Citrus County School District, which holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom 25th percentile of Florida districts. These schools include two elementary schools, Citrus Springs Elementary School and Central Ridge Elementary School, and one middle school, Citrus Springs Middle School, with a total combined enrollment of 2,430 students. A significant portion of the student population comes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 44.55% at the middle school to 54.73% at Citrus Springs Elementary.

Citrus Springs Middle School is the standout school in the city, presenting a clear paradox. It excels in advanced coursework, achieving a 99% proficiency rate in Algebra 1 and a 100% proficiency rate in Geometry, far exceeding district and state averages. However, it also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate in the city at 41.5%, well above the state average of 31.4%. This suggests a "bimodal" distribution of students: a high-achieving group in advanced classes and a disengaged group with poor attendance. In contrast, both elementary schools are struggling significantly, ranking in the bottom 17th percentile of all Florida elementary schools. Citrus Springs Elementary School has seen a particularly concerning decline, dropping from a 2-star to a 1-star rating over the past three years, with its state percentile rank falling from 40 to 17.

Chronic absenteeism is a city-wide issue, with all three schools exceeding the state average. The middle school's rate of 41.5% is alarmingly high, while even the best performer, Central Ridge Elementary, is only slightly below the state average at 29.2%. Spending per student varies, with the middle school spending the most ($10,761) and performing the best, while the elementary schools spend less ($9,294 to $9,673) and perform poorly, indicating that simply spending more does not guarantee better outcomes. A notable data anomaly is the reported 100% proficiency rate for 6th Grade Math at both elementary schools, which are K-5 schools, and this should be disregarded as an error. Overall, the data reveals systemic challenges in foundational education and attendance that are impacting the entire community.