Summary:
The five schools in Palm Coast's 32164 zip code, all part of the highly-rated Flagler district, offer a diverse mix of one high school, one middle school, two elementary schools, and one K-8 charter school, serving over 6,400 students.
Buddy Taylor Middle School stands out as an academic powerhouse, achieving perfect 100% proficiency in Geometry and 93% in Algebra 1, far exceeding state averages, despite having the highest student-teacher ratio (21:1) and a significant economically disadvantaged population. In contrast, Imagine School at Town Center operates as an efficiency champion, spending just $7,979 per student—thousands less than traditional schools—while still posting top scores in 8th-grade Science (68%) and 6th-grade ELA (75%). However, its performance can be volatile, as seen in 8th-grade math scores swinging from 20% to 72% in one year. The biggest concern is Flagler-Palm Coast High School, where a staggering 40.9% chronic absenteeism rate—far above district and state averages—likely drags down its 88.9% graduation rate and 3-star rating.
Among the elementary schools, Rymfire Elementary is improving (now in the 58th percentile), while Lewis E. Wadsworth Elementary is declining (dropping from the 63rd to 49th percentile), despite both having similar spending and demographics. This divergence highlights that school leadership and instructional quality, not just funding, drive success. Overall, families in 32164 have strong options, but should weigh Buddy Taylor's exceptional middle school program against the high school's attendance challenges, and consider Imagine School's cost-efficiency against its academic inconsistency.
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