Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 32579 (Shalimar, FL) are part of the highly-rated Okaloosa County School District and serve elementary and middle school students, with no high schools in the immediate area.
The standout performer is Clifford Meigs Middle School, which ranks in the 70th percentile statewide and excels in STEM subjects, achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and 94% in Algebra 1. In contrast, Longwood Elementary School faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 5% of Florida elementary schools with a 0-star rating and a 33.3% chronic absenteeism rate. Shalimar Elementary School sits in the middle with a 2-star rating, showing mixed results—struggling in early-grade ELA but performing well in 5th-grade ELA (70%) and 3rd-grade math (66%).
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes: Longwood spends the most per student ($11,639) and has the smallest class sizes (16.3:1), yet performs the worst, while Clifford Meigs spends the least ($10,350) with larger classes (18.5:1) and achieves the best results. This highlights that socioeconomic factors, such as the free/reduced lunch rate (ranging from 57.84% at Clifford Meigs to 76.58% at Longwood), are strong predictors of academic success. Families in Shalimar face a stark choice between elementary schools, with Shalimar Elementary offering a mid-range option and Longwood requiring additional support, while Clifford Meigs provides a clear path to advanced math and science achievement.
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