Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in the 32712 zip code of Apopka, Florida, all part of the Orange County school district, serving grades from Pre-Kindergarten to 5th or 8th grade, and reveals a clear divide in academic performance and socioeconomic factors.
The standout school in the area is Kelly Park School, the only PK-8 school, which consistently ranks in the top 20% of Florida elementary schools and boasts exceptional test scores, including 100% proficiency in Algebra 1 and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (15.4%) and free/reduced lunch rate (29.73%). Wolf Lake Elementary also performs well, ranking in the 81st percentile with strong math (72.7%) and ELA (74%) proficiency. In contrast, the remaining four schools—Apopka Elementary, Rock Springs Elementary, Dream Lake Elementary, and Clay Springs Elementary—rank between the 32nd and 47th percentile, with higher chronic absenteeism rates (up to 36.0% at Rock Springs) and free/reduced lunch rates above 49%. Notably, Clay Springs Elementary shows the most improvement, jumping 12 percentile points over three years despite over 50% of students on free/reduced lunch.
Key takeaways for parents include a strong link between socioeconomic status and performance, as the top two schools have the lowest free/reduced lunch rates, while lower-performing schools face higher poverty levels. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, with rates at struggling schools nearly double those of top performers. Additionally, higher spending does not guarantee better results—Dream Lake Elementary spends the most per student ($13,303) but ranks in the 42nd percentile, while Kelly Park School spends less ($11,251) and achieves top outcomes. This data highlights that school culture, attendance, and targeted resources matter more than funding alone in this diverse zip code.
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