Best High Schools in Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach, Florida, is home to five high schools within the Volusia County school district, serving grades 9-12 across a diverse range of traditional, alternative, and specialized programs, reflecting a community with significant economic and academic contrasts.

Seabreeze High School stands out as the top performer in the city, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 86th percentile statewide, with a 98.6% graduation rate and academic proficiency exceeding state averages in all subjects. In comparison, Mainland High School shows a positive trend, improving its state ranking from the 39th to the 52nd percentile and achieving a strong 95.8% graduation rate, though its test scores are generally average. On the other end, Richard Milburn Academy and The Chiles Academy face severe challenges, ranking in the bottom 5% of Florida high schools with extremely high chronic absenteeism rates (93.6% and 98.3%, respectively) and very low academic proficiency. The Dept. Of Corrections Educational Program serves a unique population within a correctional facility.

Key metrics reveal a stark divide: the average graduation rate across schools with data is 80.5%, but this is skewed by Seabreeze and Mainland's high rates versus The Chiles Academy's 44.4%. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, averaging 56.2% across four schools, far above the state average of 31.4%. Socioeconomic need is high, with an average of 66% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, though Seabreeze has a much lower rate at 34.47%. Per-student spending varies widely, from $13,883 at The Chiles Academy to $8,718 at the Dept. of Corrections program, highlighting that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as The Chiles Academy paradoxically spends the most but has the lowest graduation rate. Overall, parents should consider that while Seabreeze offers a high-achieving environment, other schools like Mainland are improving, and the city's most struggling schools serve highly at-risk populations requiring intensive support.