Summary:
The seven schools in zip code 32571, covering parts of Pace and Milton in the Santa Rosa district (ranked 22nd in Florida), serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and present a wide spectrum of academic performance, from exceptional to deeply challenged.
Wallace Lake K-8 is the standout, earning a 5-star rating and ranking in the top 8% of Florida elementary schools with remarkable proficiency rates (99% in Algebra 1, 100% in Geometry) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (7.9%). In contrast, High Road, an alternative school, faces profound challenges with a 55.8% chronic absenteeism rate and 0% proficiency in several subjects, despite spending nearly $30,000 per student. Pace High School is a consistent 4-star performer with a 96.1% graduation rate, while Thomas L Sims Middle School excels in advanced math, with 98% proficiency in Algebra 1. Among elementary schools, S. S. Dixon Intermediate School maintains solid 3- or 4-star ratings, but Pea Ridge Elementary School has seen its ranking drop from the 59th to the 39th percentile over three years, correlating with higher poverty and absenteeism rates.
Key takeaways include the strong link between low poverty rates and high performance at Wallace Lake K-8, the high cost of intervention at High Road, and the diverging paths of Pea Ridge and S.S. Dixon Intermediate. The "Dixon" split between primary and intermediate schools makes full K-5 assessment difficult, but the intermediate school's performance suggests a strong foundation. Overall, this zip code offers a mix of top-tier options like Wallace Lake K-8 and Pace High, alongside schools that require targeted support, making school choice critical for parents.
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