Summary:
The nine schools in Orlando's 32835 zip code, all part of the Orange County school district, serve a diverse range of students from elementary through high school, but the data reveals a stark tale of two very different educational experiences within this single area.
At the top of the performance spectrum is Windy Ridge K-8, a clear academic powerhouse that is the highest-ranked school in the zip code. It boasts exceptional test scores, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (19.9%), and the lowest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (23.59%). In stark contrast, Sunshine High School-Greater Orlando Campus is the most challenged institution, ranking in the bottom 5% of Florida high schools with a 32.3% graduation rate and a staggering 77.7% chronic absenteeism rate. The middle school landscape is also problematic, as Chain Of Lakes Middle is the lowest-ranked non-alternative school in the area, creating a difficult transition for students from most of the area's elementary schools, including Westpointe Elementary, Metrowest Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Orlo Vista Elementary, and William Frangus Elementary.
A key takeaway is the strong correlation between socioeconomic factors and performance. The percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch ranges from a low of 23.59% at Windy Ridge to a high of 66.51% at William Frangus, and the highest-spending schools are often the lowest-performing, suggesting that higher spending is a response to greater student needs. Despite these challenges, there is a bright spot at Orlo Vista Elementary, where 74% of 4th graders were proficient in Math, significantly exceeding district and state averages. Meanwhile, Olympia High stands as a stable, 3-star high school with a 95.1% graduation rate, offering a strong option for families in the area.
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