Summary:
The city of Windermere, Florida, is served by 7 public schools within the Orange County district, offering a strong educational system from elementary through high school with a total enrollment of approximately 8,445 students and a notably low average free/reduced lunch rate of 17.95%.
Two elementary schools stand out as top performers: Windermere Elementary and Keenes Crossing Elementary. Windermere Elementary is the crown jewel, ranking in the top 2% of Florida elementary schools with a 5-star rating and extraordinary proficiency rates exceeding 90% in core subjects like 5th-grade Math (96%) and Science (98%). Keenes Crossing Elementary is a close second, ranking in the top 3% of the state and also holding a 5-star rating with consistently high scores, such as 89% in 4th-grade Math. In contrast, Bay Lake Elementary ranks in the 73rd percentile, highlighting a performance gap within the same affluent community. At the middle school level, Horizon West Middle excels in advanced math with a perfect 100% proficiency on the Geometry EOC exam, while Gotha Middle shows a concerning weakness with only 20% of 7th graders proficient in math, far below state averages.
Key metrics reveal a paradox at Windermere High, which boasts an exceptional 99.5% graduation rate but suffers from a 49.5% chronic absenteeism rate—dramatically higher than district and state averages. Spending per student varies widely, from $12,062 at Sunset Park Elementary to $8,656 at the high school, yet higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as Windermere Elementary outperforms Sunset Park despite spending less. Overall, Windermere schools consistently outperform district and state averages in academic proficiency, with elementary schools having the smallest class sizes (around 16:1) and the high school having the largest (24:1).
Thank you for your feedback!