Summary:
The seven public schools in zip code 33312 (Fort Lauderdale, FL), part of the Broward district, serve elementary through high school grades and reveal a diverse educational landscape with stark contrasts in performance, attendance, and resources.
Stephen Foster Elementary School stands out as the academic leader, earning a 4-star rating with math proficiency rates above 77% and the lowest chronic absenteeism (23.9%) among non-charter schools. In contrast, Riverland Elementary School and Westwood Heights Elementary School perform closer to district averages. New Life Charter Academy is a unique elementary option with only 2.73% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, a stark contrast to other area elementary schools where rates range from 53% to 68%. New River Middle School presents a paradox: it achieves near-perfect proficiency in advanced courses like Algebra 1 (90%) and Geometry (95%), yet struggles with grade-level subjects and holds a low 2-star rating. Stranahan High School performs well in Biology (84%) and US History (78%) but faces a 55.5% chronic absenteeism rate. Suned High Of South Broward is an extreme outlier with a 0-star rating, a 17.9% graduation rate, and a 97.8% absenteeism rate, likely operating as a virtual or credit-recovery program.
Key takeaways include that chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with poor outcomes, as seen at Stranahan and Suned High, while Stephen Foster shows high poverty does not preclude success. Spending also does not guarantee results: Riverland spends the most per student ($15,777) but ranks lowest among elementary schools, while Stephen Foster spends less ($13,911) and excels. This data helps parents identify schools that best match their child's needs, from advanced coursework at New River Middle to consistent elementary performance at Stephen Foster.
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