Summary:
Zip code 32821 is home to a single school, Sunshine Elementary, a large public elementary school serving grades PK through 5 with 1,015 students in the Orange County district.
Sunshine Elementary is facing significant challenges that parents should be aware of. The school's academic performance consistently falls well below both the Orange County district and state averages across nearly every subject and grade level. For the 2025-2026 school year, the school's average proficiency across all tests was 44.9%, compared to the district average of 64.7%—a gap of nearly 20 percentage points. The school's state ranking has also been declining, dropping from the 23rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 13th percentile in 2025-2026, earning a 1-star rating. A critical red flag is the chronic absenteeism rate of 38.2%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 31.4% and likely a primary driver of the low test scores. While the free/reduced lunch rate of 35.57% indicates a moderate level of economic disadvantage, the academic underperformance is more severe than typically seen at schools with similar demographics.
There are a few points of interest for parents. The school's 3rd Grade Math proficiency of 56% is a relative bright spot, coming within 10 percentage points of the district average (67%), suggesting a possible effective early math program. However, this success is not sustained, as math proficiency drops to 41% in 4th grade and 36% in 5th grade. Year-over-year test scores are inconsistent, with some grades improving (3rd Grade ELA rose from 35% to 44%) while others declined (4th Grade ELA fell from 44% to 39%). The student-teacher ratio of 17.2:1 is slightly above the typical target. Overall, Sunshine Elementary is a school in crisis where addressing the high absenteeism rate is the most critical first step toward improving academic outcomes.
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