Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in zip code 32703 (Apopka, FL), which includes one school in the highly-ranked Seminole County School District and three in the Orange County School District, with enrollments ranging from 407 to 849 students.
Bear Lake Elementary School is the standout performer, consistently ranking in the 40th-50th percentile statewide over the last three years, far outpacing the other schools. It has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (21.9%) and the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (58.89%). In contrast, Phillis Wheatley Elementary faces the greatest challenges, with the lowest state ranking (10th percentile), the highest chronic absenteeism (34.3%), and the highest free/reduced lunch rate (74.94%). Lakeville Elementary shows volatile performance, with a 3rd-grade math proficiency of only 40% but a 4th-grade math proficiency of 62% in the same year, while Lovell Elementary sits in the middle with a 23rd percentile state ranking.
A key finding is that higher spending does not guarantee better results: Bear Lake spends $9,963 per student, while the Orange County schools spend between $12,079 and $12,566, yet Bear Lake achieves far better academic outcomes. Math is a consistent weakness across all schools, with Bear Lake's 5th-grade math proficiency at just 32% compared to the state average of 62%. Additionally, Bear Lake reports an unusual 98% proficiency rate for 6th-grade math, which may indicate a specialized program or data anomaly for a school serving only PK-5. The district divide is stark, with the Seminole County school dramatically outperforming its Orange County counterparts across nearly every metric.
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