Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in zip code 33063 (Margate, FL), serving grades PK-5 (with two schools extending to 8th grade) within the Broward County Public School District, revealing a diverse educational landscape with stark contrasts in performance, demographics, and resources.
The standout performer is Rise Academy School Of Science And Technology, which consistently ranks in the top 25% of Florida elementary schools (79th percentile) and maintains a 4-star rating, with exceptional test scores and a very low chronic absenteeism rate of 5.4%. In stark contrast, West Broward Academy ranks in the 31st percentile but boasts the area's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 2.6%, dramatically below the district average of 33.6%. Margate Elementary School shows a strong upward trajectory, improving from the 59th to the 72nd percentile and earning a 4-star rating, while Atlantic West Elementary School sits in the middle (52nd percentile) despite having the highest per-student spending ($15,224) and the highest poverty rate (55.09%). Liberty Elementary School faces challenges with a 33.4% chronic absenteeism rate and a 51.46% free/reduced lunch rate.
Key takeaways include that spending does not directly correlate with outcomes—Rise Academy achieves top performance with the second-lowest spending ($11,294), while Atlantic West spends more for middling results. Chronic absenteeism is a critical differentiator, with the two highest-performing schools (Rise Academy and Margate Elementary) having vastly different rates (5.4% vs. 34.3%), showing that schools can overcome attendance challenges. The two K-8 schools (West Broward and Rise Academy) also show a notable drop in math proficiency as students enter middle school grades, highlighting the challenge of transitioning to more complex concepts. Overall, this zip code offers a wide range of educational environments, from high-performing, low-poverty schools to those serving higher-needs populations with greater resources.
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