Summary:
Zip code 32738 in Deltona, Florida, is home to five public schools within the Volusia County School District, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a community marked by significant economic diversity.
Among the elementary schools, Pride Elementary School stands out as the highest performer, earning a 3-star rating and consistently exceeding district and state averages in math and reading. In contrast, Sunrise Elementary School has made the most dramatic improvement, jumping from a 0-star to a 2-star rating by boosting 3rd-grade math proficiency from 45% to 80%. Friendship Elementary School faces the highest economic disadvantage rate at nearly 74%, which correlates with lower overall test scores. At the middle school level, Heritage Middle School presents a unique profile: while its overall state ranking is low, it achieves a perfect 100% proficiency rate in Geometry and 89% in Algebra 1, indicating a strong advanced-track program. Pine Ridge High School boasts an impressive 97.7% graduation rate, yet its proficiency in core subjects like Algebra 1 (33%) and 10th-grade ELA (49%) lags behind state averages, and it struggles with a 42.7% chronic absenteeism rate—the highest in the zip code.
A key takeaway is that higher spending per student does not guarantee better outcomes, as the lowest-performing elementary schools spend the most. Instead, targeted interventions appear to drive success, as seen in Pride and Sunrise’s recent gains. The data also reveals a "third-grade pivot," where younger students at these schools significantly outperform their older peers, suggesting effective early-grade programs. Overall, while the area faces challenges with chronic absenteeism and economic hardship, several schools are demonstrating that positive change is achievable through focused efforts.
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