Summary:
The 32771 zip code in Sanford, FL, is home to 11 schools within the high-performing Seminole County School District, serving students from elementary through high school, including a standout magnet high school and a specialized alternative school.
The area features a clear hierarchy of academic performance. The top performer is Crooms Academy Of Information Technology, a 5-star high school ranked in the 92nd percentile statewide with a perfect 100% graduation rate. For elementary students, Goldsboro Elementary Magnet is the strongest choice, consistently ranking in the 87th percentile with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (16.6%) and high 5th-grade science proficiency (90%). Sanford Middle School is a hidden gem, earning a 4-star rating and 82nd percentile rank, with exceptional scores in Geometry (100%) and Algebra 1 (92%). In contrast, Midway Elementary and Idyllwilde Elementary are 2-star schools facing significant challenges, while Journeys Academy, an alternative school, has critically low test scores and a 73.4% chronic absenteeism rate.
Key takeaways for parents include a strong correlation between poverty rates and performance, with high-poverty schools like Midway (84.66% free/reduced lunch) struggling compared to lower-poverty schools like Wilson Elementary (23.88%). Spending per student does not guarantee results, as top-performing Goldsboro Elementary spends less ($9,946) than lower-performing Hamilton Elementary ($12,047). Notably, Hamilton Elementary has shown remarkable improvement, jumping from the 52nd to the 74th percentile in one year. A data anomaly shows 6th-grade math proficiency scores are dramatically higher than 5th-grade scores at several elementary schools, likely due to advanced student testing, so parents should interpret these figures carefully.
Thank you for your feedback!