Summary:
Zip code 32455, serving the Ponce De Leon area in Florida, is home to two public schools—Ponce De Leon High School and Ponce De Leon Elementary School—both part of the Holmes County School District, which serves a predominantly low-income community with over 65% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Ponce De Leon High School stands out as a remarkable turnaround story, jumping from a 1-star to a 3-star rating in the most recent school year. It now outperforms state averages in Biology (78% proficient), Civics (85%), and English Language Arts for 9th and 10th grades (80% and 77%), and boasts a 95.5% graduation rate—above both the district and state. However, this success is shadowed by a critical flaw: a chronic absenteeism rate of 45.7%, nearly 50% higher than the state average. In contrast, Ponce De Leon Elementary School struggles with foundational skills, scoring well below state averages in 3rd and 4th grade ELA (39% and 34%) and math (44% and 34%), despite spending more per student ($12,234 vs. $10,757 at the high school).
A key takeaway is the divergence between science and math performance across both schools. Science is a strength, with the high school excelling in Biology and Civics, and the elementary school’s 5th-grade science (55%) near the state average. Math, however, is a systemic weakness, with both schools scoring far below state averages in Algebra 1, Geometry, and elementary math. This suggests a district-wide issue with math instruction that needs attention from elementary through high school. The high school’s academic achievements, despite high absenteeism and weak elementary foundations, highlight a "diamond in the rough" that could shine even brighter if these challenges are addressed.
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