Winegard Elementary

Winegard Elementary in Orlando, FL, is a public school serving 650 students in grades PK-5 within the Orange district, where 64.3% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The most critical issue facing the school is its extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 43.3% in the 2023-2024 school year, which is significantly higher than nearby schools like Shingle Creek Elementary (30.9%) and Millennia Gardens Elementary (36.0%), and nearly four times higher than high-performing charters like Pinecrest Preparatory Charter (16.3%). This absenteeism is a fundamental barrier to learning, as reflected in the school's consistently low academic performance, ranking in the bottom 10% of Florida elementary schools with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Winegard struggles across most subjects, with only 32% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA and 38% in math, compared to district averages of 63% and 67%, respectively. However, there is a notable bright spot in 5th-grade science, where 53% of students are proficient—higher than several nearby schools like Shingle Creek Elementary (44%) and Millennia Gardens Elementary (41%). Interestingly, Winegard spends more per student ($13,108) than higher-performing peers like Cornerstone Academy Charter ($8,561), suggesting that funding alone isn't the solution. The school's proximity to Lancaster Elementary (just 0.53 miles away) highlights how school-level factors can make a difference, as Lancaster outperforms Winegard in nearly every subject despite serving a similar student population.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Winegard faces significant challenges, particularly with attendance and academic performance, but there are signs of potential improvement. The success in 5th-grade science shows that effective teaching and programs can work, and this could be replicated in other subjects. While the school's resources are not the primary issue, addressing chronic absenteeism will be crucial for any meaningful academic progress. Parents considering this school should weigh these factors carefully and explore how the school plans to tackle its most pressing challenges.