Best Public Schools in Zip Code 32669

The four schools in zip code 32669, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the Newberry area, are part of the Alachua school district, which ranks in the bottom third of Florida districts. The standout is Healthy Learning Academy Charter School, a 4-star elementary school that dramatically outperforms its peers despite having the lowest per-student spending and the highest student-teacher ratio in the area. In contrast, Newberry Elementary School is the lowest-ranked school, dropping to a 2-star rating, and struggles to meet state averages in core subjects like math and reading.

At the middle and high school levels, performance is mixed. Oak View Middle School is a consistent 3-star school and a math powerhouse, with 100% proficiency in Geometry and 87% in Algebra 1, but it struggles with grade-level math, particularly in 8th grade where only 45% of students are proficient. Newberry High School shows an alarming decline, dropping from a 3-star to a 2-star rating and falling from the 67th to the 45th percentile statewide, with test scores in Algebra 1, Geometry, and Biology all below state averages. Chronic absenteeism is a concern across the area, but Healthy Learning Academy has the lowest rate at 17.8%, while Newberry High School has the highest at 31.1%.

Key takeaways for parents include the strong correlation between socioeconomic factors and performance, as Healthy Learning Academy has a very low free/reduced lunch rate of 10.28% compared to over 40% at the other three schools. Spending per student does not predict success, as Newberry Elementary spends the most ($11,164 per student) but achieves the worst results, while Healthy Learning Academy spends the least ($8,411) and excels. Overall, families in this zip code have a clear choice: the charter school offers exceptional academics, while the traditional public schools show significant challenges, particularly at the high school level.