Palm Lake Elementary

Palm Lake Elementary is a K-5 public school in Orlando, FL, serving 574 students within the Orange district, and it has earned a consistent 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past decade, placing it in the 82nd percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year.

This school stands out as a strong, middle-to-high performer in a polarized local landscape. While nearby schools like Windermere Elementary (98th percentile) and Bay Meadows Elementary (96th percentile) lead the area, and others like Metrowest Elementary and Tangelo Park Elementary are significantly lower-performing, Palm Lake offers a "best value" option with excellent results. In the most recent testing year, Palm Lake exceeded district and state averages in every single subject and grade level tested—for example, 3rd grade ELA scores reached 78% compared to the district's 63%, and 5th grade science hit 77% versus the state's 60%. The school also boasts a low and rapidly declining chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9% in 2023-2024, down from 35.0% two years prior, and far better than the district average of 35.2%.

Interestingly, Palm Lake achieves these results despite spending $12,926 per student, which is higher than most nearby schools like Westpointe Elementary and Millennia Elementary, yet it outperforms schools with similar or higher budgets. The school is on a strong upward trajectory, with a dramatic drop in free/reduced lunch rates from 48.54% to 31.53% over two years, suggesting a positive demographic shift. While its state ranking has fluctuated slightly, the consistent academic improvement and declining absenteeism point to a school that is effectively navigating change and well-positioned for future growth.