Summary:
Zip code 32750 in Longwood, Florida, is home to two elementary schools, Woodlands Elementary School and Longwood Elementary School, serving grades PK-5 within the Seminole County Public School District.
These two schools present very different profiles. Woodlands Elementary is a standout performer, consistently earning a 4 or 5-star rating and ranking in the top 15% of Florida elementary schools. Its students significantly outperform district and state averages in core subjects like 3rd-grade Math (86%) and ELA (83%). In contrast, Longwood Elementary is a solid, average school with a stable 3-star rating, generally performing at or near district averages. A key difference is that Longwood serves a student population with higher economic need, as reflected in its 64.75% free/reduced lunch rate compared to Woodlands' 34.52%. Interestingly, Longwood actually spends more per student ($11,057 vs. $9,612), a common pattern where additional funds address the challenges of a higher-needs student body.
Several findings stand out. Both schools share a dramatic drop in 5th-grade Math proficiency, with Woodlands falling from 83% to 39% and Longwood from 67% to 48%, a red flag that warrants district investigation. Conversely, both report an improbable 100% proficiency in 6th-grade Math, likely reflecting a very small group of advanced students. Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator: Woodlands' rate (14.4%) is excellent, while Longwood's (21.2%) is nearly 50% higher and likely contributes to its lower academic performance. Overall, Woodlands Elementary is a high-performing school in a resource-rich environment, while Longwood Elementary is a solid school effectively serving a more challenging demographic.
Thank you for your feedback!