William S Maxey Elementary

William S Maxey Elementary is a public school in Winter Garden, FL, serving 523 students in grades PK-5 within the Orange district. This school has shown remarkable improvement over the past decade, rising from a 1-star rating to a consistent 4-star rating, and now ranks in the 71st-73rd percentile statewide.

Maxey Elementary stands out for its exceptional performance in 5th-grade science and math. In the most recent school year, 77% of 5th graders were proficient in science, significantly outperforming the district (67%) and state (60%). Math scores are equally impressive, with 82% of 5th graders proficient compared to 64% for the district. These strong results have been consistent over the past four years, with the school averaging 70% proficiency in 5th-grade science—well above nearby schools like Dillard Street Elementary (a 2-star school just a mile away). However, English Language Arts (ELA) scores show a mixed picture: while 5th-grade ELA is strong at 72%, 3rd and 4th-grade ELA scores hover near the district average, suggesting the school may be particularly effective at developing literacy skills as students progress.

One area for improvement is chronic absenteeism, which at 24.2% is notably higher than top-performing neighbors like Lake Whitney Elementary (9.5%) and Hope Charter (12.2%). While Maxey's rate is better than the district average of 35.2%, addressing attendance could be a key lever for further academic gains. The school's spending per student ($13,349) is slightly above nearby peers, yet it doesn't directly correlate with rankings—Oakland Avenue Charter spends less ($10,793) but ranks higher. Overall, Maxey offers a strong, improving option in a competitive area, with particular strengths in science and math that make it a solid choice for families prioritizing those subjects.