Summary:
In zip code 32926 (Cocoa, FL), there are two schools—Cocoa High School (grades 7-12) and Saturn Elementary School (grades PK-6)—both part of the Brevard district, which ranks in the 66th percentile statewide. These schools face significant challenges, with high poverty rates (64% and 74% free/reduced lunch eligibility) and academic performance that lags behind district and state averages. Cocoa High has a graduation rate of just 80.3%, far below the district's 92.7%, while both schools struggle with chronic absenteeism (25-29%).
Despite these overall struggles, each school has a notable strength. At Saturn Elementary, 6th grade math proficiency jumped to 70% in 2025-2026—exceeding the state average of 60% and nearly matching the district's 74%—a dramatic one-year improvement that stands out as a "pocket of excellence." Meanwhile, Cocoa High School shows relative strength in Biology 1 (54% proficient) and US History (56% proficient), though these still trail district averages by about 20 points. In contrast, math proficiency is critically low: only 10% of 7th graders and 32% of Algebra 1 students are proficient, compared to district rates of 49% and 67%, respectively.
Resource allocation reveals an interesting paradox: Saturn Elementary spends $13,488 per student with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio, yet ranks in the 17th percentile—lower than Cocoa High's 21st percentile despite Cocoa High spending less ($12,497 per student) and having larger classes (16:1). This suggests that funding alone isn't the answer; targeted interventions are needed. The persistent gaps in literacy and math across both schools, combined with the graduation rate cliff at Cocoa High, point to systemic community challenges that affect students from elementary through high school.
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