Summary:
The city of Mount Dora, Florida, is served by four public schools within the Lake school district, including two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, presenting a stark contrast in educational quality.
The most notable standout is Round Lake Charter School, a K-8 charter that earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the 94th percentile statewide, with exceptional proficiency rates and the lowest chronic absenteeism (11.6%). In stark contrast, Triangle Elementary School is the most challenged, holding a 0-star rating and ranking in the bottom 12% of Florida elementary schools, despite having the highest per-student spending ($15,187). Mt. Dora High School is a consistent mid-tier performer with a 3-star rating and an impressive 98.3% graduation rate, but it struggles with a 49.8% chronic absenteeism rate. Mt. Dora Middle School is the weakest link in the traditional pipeline, holding a 2-star rating and showing poor math proficiency, with only 20% of 7th graders proficient in 2024-2025.
A key takeaway is the immense performance gap between Round Lake Charter and the traditional schools, which cannot be explained by demographics alone, as Round Lake and Mt. Dora High School have nearly identical free/reduced lunch rates (~28.6%). Chronic absenteeism is a crisis for traditional schools, with rates far exceeding state averages, while Round Lake’s low rate suggests a stronger school culture. The spending paradox is also striking: Triangle Elementary spends the most per student yet performs the worst, indicating funds are used to address high student needs rather than driving academic success. Finally, Mt. Dora Middle School appears to be a bottleneck, sending underprepared students to the high school, which may explain the high school’s low Algebra 1 proficiency despite its high graduation rate.
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