Summary:
The city of Lake Helen, Florida, is home to two elementary schools within the Volusia County School District, serving a total of 1,424 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
Ivy Hawn Charter School Of The Arts is the standout school in the area, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 73rd percentile statewide. This K-8 charter school achieves exceptional academic results despite spending less per student ($7,341) and having larger class sizes (18.9:1) than its local counterpart. Its arts-integrated curriculum appears highly effective, with middle school students achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and 99% in Algebra 1. In contrast, Volusia Pines Elementary School serves pre-K through 5th grade with a 3-star rating and a 68th percentile state rank. Volusia Pines spends significantly more per student ($11,307) and maintains smaller class sizes (15.3:1), yet its overall test scores are lower. This spending difference likely reflects the higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students at Volusia Pines (56.18% free/reduced lunch vs. 33.79% at Ivy Hawn).
Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator, with Volusia Pines at 26.2% compared to Ivy Hawn's 14.3%. However, Volusia Pines shows strong improvement in 5th grade, with proficiency gains of 16-22 percentage points in Science, Math, and English Language Arts from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026. Ivy Hawn's only notable weakness is 8th-grade ELA, which dropped to 50% proficiency in 2024-2025, falling below the district average. Overall, parents seeking a high-performing, arts-focused school with strong math and science outcomes should consider Ivy Hawn, while Volusia Pines offers a more traditional elementary experience with promising recent gains in upper grades.
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