Summary:
Zip code 32303 in Tallahassee, Florida, is home to seven schools within the Leon school district, primarily serving elementary grades with one middle school and no high schools, reflecting a community with significant socioeconomic diversity as indicated by free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 21.65% to 76.62%.
The clear academic standout is The School Of Arts & Sciences Centre (SAS), which is the only school in the area to earn a 3-star rating from Schooldigger, consistently ranking above the state average in the 57th-62nd percentile over the past three years. SAS also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (24.0%) and the lowest poverty rate (21.65% free/reduced lunch), while spending the least per student ($8,183). In stark contrast, Raa Middle School presents a paradox: despite a low overall state ranking (28th percentile), its students achieve near-perfect proficiency in advanced End-of-Course exams (100% in Geometry, 99% in Biology 1, 90% in Algebra 1), suggesting a highly effective program for advanced learners even as its general student body struggles on standard assessments.
Most schools in the area perform below state averages, with five of seven ranking in the bottom half of Florida schools. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread challenge, with four schools exceeding the already-high district average of 36.8%, most notably Ruediger Elementary (40.5%) and Astoria Park Elementary (39.5%). Interestingly, several elementary schools show a bright spot in 4th and 5th-grade math, with Springwood Elementary (78% in 5th grade), Ruediger (67%), and Astoria Park (70%) all exceeding district and state averages. The data also reveals an inverse relationship between spending and performance, as the highest-spending schools (Springwood at $13,728 and Astoria Park at $13,470) are among the lowest-ranked, while the top-performing SAS spends the least, indicating that higher spending likely reflects efforts to support higher-needs populations rather than driving test scores.
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