Summary:
In zip code 32905 in Palm Bay, Florida, three elementary schools serve students within the Brevard School District, a district ranked in the 66th percentile statewide, though the schools themselves show a wide range of performance and resources.
Riviera Elementary School is the standout performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 69th percentile for the 2025-2026 school year. It consistently exceeds district and state averages, with particularly strong results in 5th grade science (75% proficiency) and 6th grade math (80% proficiency). In contrast, Palm Bay Elementary School holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom 27% of Florida elementary schools, despite having the highest per-student spending ($14,152) and the lowest student-to-teacher ratio (13.2:1) in the area. Palm Bay Academy Charter School, which serves grades K-8, has the lowest academic performance with a 1-star rating and ranks in the 18th percentile, even though it has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (20.8%) in the zip code—well below the state average of 31.4%.
A key takeaway is the "money vs. results" paradox: Palm Bay Elementary spends over $2,800 more per student than Riviera Elementary, yet Riviera dramatically outperforms it in every academic metric, suggesting that factors like school culture and instructional effectiveness matter as much as funding. Additionally, the socioeconomic-achievement gap is stark, with the school serving the highest percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch (Palm Bay Academy at 90.81%) also posting the lowest test scores. Riviera Elementary, however, stands as a model of consistent improvement, having risen from the 47th to the 69th percentile over three years, making it the clear academic leader in this zip code.
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