Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools in Fort Lauderdale, FL (zip code 33304), all part of the Broward school district, serving grades PK/K through 5, and reveals a stark contrast in performance and demographics within a small geographic area.
Bayview Elementary School is the clear standout, a high-performing school with a 5-star rating and a state rank in the top 1% (9th out of 2,240 schools). Its academic scores are dramatically higher than both the district and state averages, with math proficiency averaging 97.7% and ELA proficiency averaging 92.3%. In contrast, Bennett Elementary School is the lowest-performing school in the area, with a 1-star rating and a state rank in the bottom 29%. Despite having the highest per-student spending ($21,025) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (14:1), Bennett fails to achieve academic proficiency, with 5th-grade ELA at just 33%. North Side Elementary School is a notable improver, jumping from the 42nd percentile to the 73rd percentile in just two years, showing solid math (76%) and science (78%) proficiency despite having the highest poverty rate (69.9% free/reduced lunch) and chronic absenteeism (39.9%).
The most compelling finding is that money does not equal results: Bennett spends $8,613 more per student than Bayview but achieves drastically worse outcomes, strongly suggesting challenges tied to socioeconomic factors and high chronic absenteeism. Bayview, with a low free/reduced lunch rate of 17.9%, has low absenteeism (18.2%) and exceptional scores, while Bennett (61.9% FRL) and North Side (69.9% FRL) have absenteeism rates near 40%, a critical red flag linked to lower achievement. North Side's upward trajectory, despite these barriers, makes it a school to watch for best practices in overcoming socioeconomic challenges, while Bayview remains an elite outlier with 5th-grade math proficiency of 97%.
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