Summary:
The Flagler school district in Palm Coast, Florida, is home to two high schools serving grades 9 through 12, and it ranks in the 80th percentile statewide, earning a 4-star rating.
When comparing the two schools, Matanzas High School stands out as the stronger overall performer. It boasts a higher state ranking (66th percentile), a superior graduation rate of 91.7%, and notably lower chronic absenteeism (36.6%) compared to Flagler-Palm Coast High School. Matanzas also excels in humanities, with a standout 82% proficiency in U.S. History and stronger English Language Arts scores. In contrast, Flagler-Palm Coast has a clear advantage in foundational math, with higher proficiency in Algebra 1 (54%) and Geometry (62%), and it offers a slightly better student-teacher ratio of 20.8:1. Despite spending less per student ($9,838), Flagler-Palm Coast lags in overall academic outcomes, suggesting that factors like school culture and instructional quality are key drivers of success.
A critical takeaway is the district-wide chronic absenteeism crisis, with both schools exceeding the state average of 31.4%. While Matanzas shows a positive trend in graduation rates, its state ranking has declined over the past three years, and it experienced a significant drop in Algebra 1 proficiency. Flagler-Palm Coast, meanwhile, remains stagnant in its ranking. The district’s high overall ranking suggests that its elementary and middle schools may be driving performance, as neither high school individually matches the district’s top-tier percentile. Parents should consider each school’s distinct academic strengths—Matanzas for humanities and Flagler-Palm Coast for math—when making their choice.
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