Summary:
The nine public schools in Orlando's 32805 zip code, serving pre-K through 12th grade within the Orange County school district, present a complex picture of high poverty, significant academic challenges, and notable bright spots for parents to consider.
For parents, the standout school is Rock Lake Elementary, which defies the area's high poverty rate to achieve the highest test scores in the zip code, earning a 4-star rating. In contrast, Ocps Academic Center For Excellence is the lowest-ranked school, with test scores consistently below state averages. For middle school, Legends Academy Charter is a strong choice for math, posting exceptional 6th-grade math proficiency (95%) and the area's lowest chronic absenteeism rate (22.7%). The only high school, Jones High, has low test scores but a graduation rate (92.1%) that matches the state average, a significant achievement given its high chronic absenteeism (65.3%). Other elementary schools like Washington Shores Elementary show inconsistent performance, excelling in 5th-grade science (80% proficient) but struggling in 4th-grade English (23% proficient).
The most critical issue across the area is chronic absenteeism, averaging 44.6%—far above the state average of 31.4%. This, combined with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 75%, highlights the socioeconomic challenges families face. A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee success; Rock Lake Elementary spends the most ($17,331 per student) and performs best, while other high-spending schools do not. Additionally, several schools show an "Algebra 1 anomaly," where a select group of advanced students achieves high scores (e.g., 77% at Ocps Academic Center For Excellence) even when general math proficiency is very low, indicating that these scores do not reflect the overall student body.
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