Summary:
Zip code 32820 in Orlando, Florida, is served by two public schools in the Orange County district: Columbia Elementary (grades PK-5) and Corner Lake Middle (grades 6-8), with no high school located within the zip code itself.
Columbia Elementary is the standout school in the area, consistently outperforming both district and state averages across all subjects. It ranks in the top 20% of Florida elementary schools (81st percentile) with a 4-star rating, and its chronic absenteeism rate of 27% is well below the district average of 35.2%. In contrast, Corner Lake Middle presents a more mixed picture. While it excels in advanced math—with 100% of Geometry students and 77% of Algebra 1 students scoring proficient—its overall state ranking is in the 40th percentile (2-star rating), and its chronic absenteeism rate is a very high 42.2%. The middle school also has a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (51.76% eligible for free/reduced lunch) compared to the elementary school (40.08%).
The most striking finding is the "middle school slump" evident in this zip code. While Columbia Elementary is thriving with a favorable 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio and strong test scores (e.g., 81% proficiency in 5th-grade Science and 3rd-grade Math), Corner Lake Middle struggles with a 19.6:1 ratio and declining state rankings. Notably, per-student spending is nearly identical at both schools (~$11,800-$11,900), indicating that funding is not the primary driver of performance differences. For parents, this means Columbia Elementary is a top-tier choice, while Corner Lake Middle offers exceptional advanced math programs but faces significant challenges with attendance and overall academic proficiency.
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