Summary
Burns Science And Technology Charter School in Oak Hill, FL, is a K-12 charter school serving 1,099 students within the Volusia County school district, and it stands out for its exceptional performance in science and math, though it faces some notable challenges.
The school’s STEM focus is clearly effective, with high school End-of-Course (EOC) exam scores significantly exceeding district and state averages—for example, 80% proficiency in Geometry versus 53% in the district, and 83% in Biology versus 78% in the district. Middle school science is also a standout, with 8th-grade proficiency at 77% compared to the district’s 56%. However, this strength is not universal: 5th-grade math proficiency has been a persistent weakness, dropping to just 42% in the most recent data, a full 20 points below the district average. Additionally, while middle school English Language Arts (ELA) is strong, high school ELA (10th grade) lags behind both district and state averages, which is a concern for college readiness.
Beyond academics, the school shows volatility in key areas. Graduation rates have fluctuated dramatically, from 100% to 80.8% and back to 89.2% over recent years, and chronic absenteeism has risen sharply from 9.5% to 31.9%, now above the state average. A puzzling demographic shift in free or reduced-price lunch eligibility—from 59% to nearly 100% and then down to 36%—is likely due to a reporting change, not a real population shift. On a positive note, the school has improved its student-teacher ratio to 15.9, and its per-student spending of $9,442 appears to yield strong returns in many subjects. There are no other schools within 20 miles for direct comparison, making Burns a unique option in the area.
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