Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools in zip code 32952 (Merritt Island, FL), all part of the Brevard County School District, serving grades PK-6 with a combined enrollment of approximately 1,466 students.
Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School is the standout performer, ranking in the top 3% of Florida elementary schools (98th percentile) with a 5-star rating for three consecutive years. It achieves roughly 90% average proficiency across all tests, has remarkably low chronic absenteeism at 6.3%, and serves a student population with a 16% free/reduced lunch rate. In contrast, Tropical Elementary School and Audubon Elementary School both serve populations with about 45% free/reduced lunch rates and achieve similar average proficiency around 71.6%. A key finding is the "resource paradox": Audubon spends the most per student ($14,695) yet shows the most volatile test scores, while Stevenson spends the least ($10,717) and achieves the highest results, suggesting higher spending at Audubon addresses greater student needs rather than driving performance.
Chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with poverty and performance: Stevenson's low absenteeism (6.3%) supports its high achievement, while Tropical (20.8%) and Audubon (16.5%) face higher absenteeism rates that likely hinder progress. Tropical shows a notable "6th grade bump" with 85% ELA and 81% Math proficiency, far exceeding district averages. Audubon's dramatic year-over-year score swings—like 5th-grade Science dropping from 70% to 46%—may indicate teacher turnover or curriculum inconsistencies. Overall, Stevenson's dominance is absolute, with its lowest subject score (82%) exceeding the highest score from any other school in the zip code, making it a model of consistent excellence.
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