Indian River

The Indian River school district in Florida serves 28 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools, and is a top-tier district ranked 7th out of 70 in the state with a 5-star rating. This analysis highlights standout schools, key metrics, and important takeaways for parents.

Several schools excel academically. Osceola Magnet School is a top elementary performer, ranking in the 95th percentile with 95% proficiency in 3rd and 4th-grade Math. St. Peter's Academy is another standout, achieving perfect 100% proficiency in 5th-grade Science, ELA, and Math despite a 100% free/reduced lunch rate. Among middle schools, Sebastian Charter Junior High School leads with a 92nd percentile ranking and 96% proficiency in Civics. At the high school level, Indian River Charter High School is the top-ranked, with 85% ELA proficiency and a 99.4% graduation rate. In contrast, Dodgertown Elementary School faces significant challenges, ranking in the 21st percentile, while Ir Prep has a 0% graduation rate and 89.2% chronic absenteeism. Gifford Middle School shows notable improvement, jumping from the 36th to the 60th percentile in one year.

Key metrics reveal a district with strong graduation rates (96.0%, above the state average of 92.2%) but a critical issue with chronic absenteeism, which averages 35.0% and exceeds 47% at Vero Beach High School and Sebastian River High School. Spending per student varies widely, from $7,616 at Indian River Virtual Instruction Program to $59,011 at Wabasso School. The district's magnet schools, like Rosewood Magnet School and Liberty Magnet School, consistently outperform non-magnet counterparts, and middle schools excel in advanced math, with schools like Storm Grove Middle School and Sebastian River Middle School achieving 80-99% proficiency in Algebra 1 and Geometry EOCs.