Summary:
Zip code 32129 in Port Orange, Florida, is served by two elementary schools, Horizon Elementary School and Sugar Mill Elementary School, both part of the Volusia school district, and these schools present very different academic trajectories for families to consider.
Horizon Elementary School is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 75th percentile statewide for the 2025-2026 school year. It consistently outperforms Sugar Mill Elementary School in every academic subject, with particularly large gaps in 3rd grade English Language Arts (76% vs. 59%) and 3rd grade math (76% vs. 64%). Horizon also has a lower student-teacher ratio (12.8:1) and higher per-student spending ($12,301) compared to Sugar Mill (14.2:1 and $11,490). In contrast, Sugar Mill Elementary School has seen a sharp decline in its state ranking, dropping from the 64th percentile to the 46th percentile, resulting in a 2-star rating. Sugar Mill also has a higher rate of chronic absenteeism (33.6% vs. 29.2% at Horizon) and a higher percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (60.84% vs. 51.29%).
Key takeaways for parents include Horizon's clear upward trend and consistent academic strength, while Sugar Mill shows significant year-over-year volatility in test scores, such as 4th grade math dropping from 71% to 57% in one year. Both schools face challenges with chronic absenteeism, which is above the state average of 31.4%, but Horizon's rate is notably better. Overall, Horizon Elementary School offers a more stable and higher-performing educational environment, while Sugar Mill Elementary School may require closer monitoring for families seeking consistent academic outcomes.
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