Summary
Ventura Elementary in Orlando, FL, is a public school serving 577 students from Pre-K through 5th grade in the Orange district, where over 61% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has faced significant challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 16th percentile statewide and earning a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for the 2025-2026 school year. The most pressing issue is an exceptionally high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.4%, which is the highest among all nearby schools and far exceeds the district average of 35.2% and state average of 31.4%. This absenteeism is strongly linked to low academic performance, as students who miss school frequently struggle to keep up, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math falling below district averages in every grade level tested.
When compared to nearby schools, the impact of absenteeism becomes clear. For instance, Vista Pointe Elementary, just over two miles away, has a much lower absenteeism rate of 32.7% and significantly higher proficiency rates, such as 68% in 3rd-grade ELA versus Ventura's 46%. Similarly, Three Points Elementary, only 1.09 miles away, has a lower absenteeism rate (41.6%) and generally outperforms Ventura in subjects like 5th-grade science (57% vs. 48%). Interestingly, Renaissance Charter School at Goldenrod serves a higher percentage of low-income students (78.65%) with less funding per student ($8,754 vs. Ventura's $13,905) but achieves much higher test scores in middle school, showing that different educational models can succeed despite similar challenges.
Despite these struggles, there is a notable bright spot: Ventura's 3rd-grade math proficiency has shown a strong upward trend, jumping from 38% in 2022-2023 to 60% in 2025-2026, approaching the district average of 67%. However, other areas remain inconsistent, such as 4th-grade math dropping from 56% to 45% in the same period. This suggests that improvements may depend on specific teachers or student cohorts rather than systemic change. For parents, the key takeaway is that addressing chronic absenteeism is likely the most effective way to boost academic outcomes at Ventura, as the school's funding is in line with peers but its high absence rates undermine learning. Nearby schools like Shenandoah Elementary and Lake George Elementary offer more consistent performance, making them worth considering for families seeking higher academic stability.
Thank you for your feedback!