Summary:
Zip code 32615 in Alachua, FL, is home to a single high school, Santa Fe High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 with a total enrollment of 1,132 students.
Santa Fe High School presents a mixed academic profile that parents should carefully consider. The school has a strong graduation rate of 90.1%, which exceeds the Alachua district average of 87.7%, though it falls slightly below the state average of 92.2%. However, the school struggles with a very high chronic absenteeism rate of 35.9%, notably higher than both the district (31.6%) and state (31.4%) averages. This absenteeism likely contributes to a declining state ranking, which dropped from the 62nd percentile in 2024-2025 to the 54th percentile in 2025-2026. The school also operates with a relatively high student-teacher ratio of 24:1 and per-student spending of $9,352, which may limit individualized support.
Academically, the school shows a fascinating paradox in its test scores. It dramatically underperforms in Algebra 1, with only 40% of students proficient in 2024-2025—a staggering 23 points below the district and 20 points below the state. The 2025-2026 projection is even worse at 24% proficiency. Yet, the school excels in other STEM subjects: Geometry proficiency (62%) is 6 points above the district, and Biology 1 proficiency (77%) is 10 points above the district and 6 points above the state. This suggests a specific weakness in Algebra 1 instruction or curriculum, while other areas remain strong. Additionally, 10th grade ELA proficiency (61%) slightly exceeds both district and state averages, and US History proficiency (66%) is below the district average of 72%. With 41.61% of students economically disadvantaged, the school faces challenges that require targeted interventions, particularly in Algebra 1 and addressing chronic absenteeism.
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