Summary:
Zip code 32129 in Port Orange, Florida, is home to a single middle school, Silver Sands Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 with a substantial enrollment of 1,199 students and is part of the Volusia County school district.
Silver Sands Middle School presents a mixed picture of performance. The school is a standout in advanced math, with 100% of students proficient in Geometry and 81% proficient in Algebra 1, dramatically outperforming both district and state averages. It also shows strength in 8th grade science, with 61% proficiency. However, the school struggles significantly in standard math for 6th and 7th graders, where only 45% and 41% are proficient, respectively, well below state averages. English Language Arts (ELA) performance is also a systemic weakness, with proficiency rates in grades 6-8 ranging from 54% to 58%, all below the state's 60-62% range. The school's overall state ranking has declined over the past three years, dropping from the 56th percentile (3 stars) to the 41st percentile (2 stars).
A critical concern is the chronic absenteeism rate of 34.6%, which is higher than both the district and state averages and likely contributes to the school's struggles in core subjects. With a student-teacher ratio of 20.6:1 and spending of $9,212 per student, the school operates with moderate resources. The stark contrast between exceptional advanced math performance and weak foundational math and ELA scores suggests a highly effective advanced track but a potential gap in instruction for the general student population. Parents should be aware of these specific strengths and weaknesses when evaluating the school.
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