Summary:
The three public schools in zip code 32908 (Palm Bay, FL) serve nearly 4,000 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, all part of the Brevard district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 66th percentile among Florida districts.
Westside Elementary School stands out as the strongest academic performer in the area, earning a 2-star rating and consistently outperforming its local peer, Jupiter Elementary School, across nearly all grade levels and subjects. Westside is the only school where proficiency rates in several subjects meet or exceed district averages, and it achieves this with a lower per-student budget ($10,474) than Jupiter. In contrast, Jupiter Elementary faces the most significant challenges, with a 1-star rating, the highest rate of economic disadvantage (64.14% free/reduced lunch), and the highest chronic absenteeism rate (31.2%). Notably, Jupiter also has the highest per-student spending ($11,905), illustrating that financial resources alone do not guarantee academic success. Bayside High School, serving grades 9-12, shows strong improvement in End-of-Course exams, with proficiency rates jumping significantly in Algebra 1 (23% to 33%), Geometry (34% to 43%), and Biology 1 (63% to 72%) from the 2024-2025 to 2025-2026 school year. Its English Language Arts proficiency is a bright spot, with 61% of 10th graders matching the state average.
The data reveals a clear correlation between economic disadvantage and chronic absenteeism, with Jupiter Elementary having the highest rates of both, while Westside Elementary has the lowest. This suggests socioeconomic factors are a major barrier to consistent attendance and achievement. Overall, Westside Elementary is the local academic leader, Bayside High School is on an upward trajectory, and Jupiter Elementary requires targeted support to address its unique challenges.
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