Summary:
In zip code 32821 (Orlando, FL), there is one elementary school, Sunshine Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 and is part of the Orange County school district.
Sunshine Elementary is a large school with 1,015 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17.2:1. The school is in a performance crisis, with its state ranking dropping from the 23rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 13th percentile in 2025-2026, placing it in the bottom 13% of Florida elementary schools. The most alarming statistic is a 38.2% chronic absenteeism rate, which is nearly 7 points higher than the state average and likely a major driver of the school's academic struggles. Test scores are below district and state averages in every subject, with math being a critical weakness—only 36% of 5th graders are proficient in math compared to 62% statewide. The school spends $8,437 per student, a reasonable amount, but this funding is not translating into results, suggesting issues with how resources are used or the effectiveness of instruction.
Despite the overall negative trend, there is a glimmer of hope in 3rd grade math, where 56% of students are proficient—the school's strongest subject. However, this is still 10 points below the state average. The school serves a moderate level of economic need, with 35.57% of students receiving free or reduced lunch. Sunshine Elementary requires urgent, targeted intervention from the Orange County school district to address its systemic challenges, particularly the high absenteeism and declining academic performance across all grade levels.
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