Best Public Schools in Zip Code 32812

Zip code 32812 in Orlando, Florida, is home to six schools within the Orange district, comprising five elementary schools and one middle school, with no high schools present. The standout performer is Shenandoah Elementary, which leads the area with a 49th percentile state ranking, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 29.5%, and test scores consistently above district and state averages, particularly in 3rd-grade ELA and math. In contrast, Passport Charter struggles significantly, holding a 6th percentile ranking and a 0-star rating, with proficiency rates as low as 10% in 5th-grade math, despite having the best attendance record (22.9% chronic absenteeism) and the lowest per-student spending ($10,583).

Key metrics reveal a wide performance gap across the zip code. Conway Middle, the only middle school, shows a mixed profile: it excels in Algebra 1 with 84% proficiency but struggles in 7th-grade math (22%) and ELA (42%), and has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 42.1%. Conway Elementary presents a spending anomaly, investing the most per student ($19,068) and having the smallest class sizes (11.5:1), yet it ranks in the 23rd percentile with below-average test scores and the highest free/reduced lunch rate (63.38%). The average chronic absenteeism for the area is 32.8%, above the state average, while the average per-student spending is $14,091.

Interesting takeaways include the lack of correlation between spending and success, as seen at Conway Elementary, and the "two-tiered" academic environment at Conway Middle, where top math students thrive while others fall behind. The "7th-grade math slump" at Conway Middle is a critical area for intervention, with proficiency dropping from 45% in 6th grade to 22% in 7th. Passport Charter's paradox of low absenteeism and low performance suggests that attendance alone does not guarantee learning, pointing to potential issues with curriculum or instruction. Overall, parents should consider Shenandoah Elementary for strong academics and attendance, while being aware of the challenges at Passport Charter and the mixed results at Conway Middle.