Summary:
This analysis examines four elementary schools in zip code 33314 (Davie, FL), serving grades K-5 within the Broward district, and reveals a dramatic range in performance despite similar socioeconomic demographics.
The standout school is Somerset Academy Davie Charter School, a top-tier 5-star institution ranked in the top 5% of Florida elementary schools. It achieves exceptional test scores (100% proficiency in 5th grade Math and ELA in 2024-2025) and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (13.2%) in the area, despite having the lowest per-student spending ($9,912). In stark contrast, Davie Elementary School is a struggling 1-star school ranked in the bottom 27% statewide, with proficiency rates far below district and state averages and the highest chronic absenteeism (35.6%), even though it spends the most per student ($12,100). The two traditional "Nova" schools offer a middle ground: Nova Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary is a strong 4-star school with upward momentum, while Nova Blanche Forman Elementary is a 3-star school with a slightly declining rank.
The most striking finding is that spending does not correlate with performance—the lowest-spending school is the highest-performing, and vice versa. Chronic absenteeism emerges as a powerful predictor of success, with a clear inverse relationship to academic outcomes. All four schools have similar free/reduced lunch percentages (44.85% to 49.92%), yet their performance ranges from the 5th to the 95th percentile, demonstrating that school effectiveness can overcome socioeconomic challenges. For parents, this data highlights that school culture, leadership, and attendance are more critical factors than budget size when choosing a school in this area.
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