Summary:
This analysis examines three public middle schools (Grades 6-8) in the 32828 zip code of Orlando, Florida, all part of the Orange school district, serving a combined enrollment of approximately 2,672 students.
Avalon Middle is the clear standout, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide with a 4-star rating. It leads in academic proficiency across nearly every subject, including 8th Grade Science (75% proficient) and 6th Grade Math (84% proficient), and boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (19.3%) and the lowest percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (15.3%). Timber Springs Middle is a strong second-place option, also earning a 4-star rating (74th percentile) with solid performance in 7th Grade ELA (77% proficient) and a low chronic absenteeism rate (22.5%). Discovery Middle is the lowest-performing school in the trio, with a 3-star rating (67th percentile), the highest chronic absenteeism (30.8%), and the highest rate of economic disadvantage (34.89% free/reduced lunch).
A key finding is that per-student spending does not correlate with performance: Discovery Middle has the highest spending ($11,793) but the lowest rankings, while Timber Springs has the lowest spending ($10,259) but outperforms Discovery. All three schools share a universal weakness in 7th Grade Math, with proficiency rates below the state average of 53%. However, they excel in advanced high-school level End-of-Course exams, with 100% proficiency in Geometry at both Timber Springs and Discovery, and 96% proficiency in Algebra 1 at Avalon. This data suggests that school culture and socioeconomic factors are more critical drivers of success than raw funding in this area.
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