Summary:
Zip code 32952 in Merritt Island, FL, is home to four public schools within the Brevard district, serving elementary and middle school students with no high schools in the immediate area. The standout school is Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School, which ranks in the 98th percentile statewide with a perfect 5-star rating, achieving exceptional test scores—such as 98% proficiency in both English and Math for 6th graders—and a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.3%. In contrast, Audubon Elementary School and Tropical Elementary School are solid mid-tier schools ranking in the 66th-76th percentile, with higher rates of economic disadvantage (around 45% free/reduced lunch) compared to Stevenson's 16%. Thomas Jefferson Middle School excels in advanced coursework, with 100% proficiency in Biology 1 and 85% in Algebra 1, making it a strong feeder for high school.
Key metrics reveal notable disparities: per-student spending ranges from $10,717 at Stevenson to $14,695 at Audubon, yet Stevenson achieves the highest academic results, highlighting that factors like socioeconomic status and school culture are more influential than spending alone. Student-teacher ratios are low across the board, from 13.8:1 at Audubon to 17.9:1 at Thomas Jefferson, while chronic absenteeism varies from Stevenson's exceptional 6.3% to Thomas Jefferson's 23.5%, still below the state average of 31.4%.
An interesting finding is the "resource paradox," where the lowest-spending school outperforms others, and a one-year dip in math proficiency at Tropical Elementary (38% of 3rd graders in 2024-2025) suggests potential volatility that parents may want to investigate. Overall, this area offers a strong educational foundation, with Stevenson as a top-tier choice and Thomas Jefferson providing excellent advanced programs for middle school students.
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