Summary:
In zip code 32117, there is one high school, Richard Milburn Academy, a public school in Daytona Beach serving grades 9 through 12 with 771 students, and it faces severe challenges that set it apart from typical schools in the Volusia district.
Richard Milburn Academy is a standout for its extreme struggles, particularly with student attendance and academic performance. The school has a chronic absenteeism rate of 93.6%, which is nearly three times higher than the district average of 34.1%, and this directly correlates with test scores that are in the single digits for most subjects—such as 4% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 3% in Geometry, compared to district rates of 53-78%. The school consistently ranks in the bottom 2-4% of all Florida high schools, earning a 0-star rating, and has a high student-teacher ratio of 35:1, limiting individualized attention. Despite these issues, the graduation rate of 83.1% is a relative bright spot, though it remains below the state average of 92.2%.
Key metrics show a high poverty rate, with 70.17% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, and per-student spending of $8,718, which does not translate into strong outcomes due to the overwhelming absenteeism problem. The school appears to function as a safety net for students facing significant barriers, but the data suggests that financial resources alone are not solving the core attendance issue. There is a slight, fragile upward trend in some test scores, like US History improving from 12% to 15%, but overall, the school’s primary challenge is re-engaging students to attend class regularly. For parents, this school requires a deep understanding of the systemic hurdles it faces, with the graduation rate offering a glimmer of hope amidst otherwise critical data.
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