Summary:
In zip code 32119, there is one elementary school, South Daytona Elementary School, serving grades PK through 5 with 794 students in the Volusia district.
South Daytona Elementary School faces significant challenges, with academic performance consistently below district and state averages. The most concerning trend is a severe "4th grade slump" in the 2025-2026 school year, where only 39% of 4th graders were proficient in English Language Arts and 35% in Math, compared to district averages of 58% and 66% respectively. This same cohort struggled as 3rd graders the previous year, indicating a persistent issue. The school's state ranking has also declined, dropping from the 31st percentile (2 stars) in 2024-2025 to the 20th percentile (1 star) in 2025-2026. A bright spot was 5th grade Science in 2024-2025, where 53% of students were proficient, nearly matching the state average of 55%.
Two critical factors likely driving low performance are high poverty and chronic absenteeism. With 72.29% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a high-poverty population. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 38.2% is alarmingly high, exceeding both the district (34.1%) and state (31.4%) averages. Despite spending $10,228 per student, these resources are not translating into improved outcomes, raising questions about how funds are allocated. The school also shows inconsistent year-over-year test scores, suggesting a lack of stable instructional strategies. For parents, this school requires close attention to attendance and grade-level support, particularly for 4th graders.
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