Summary:
In zip code 33316 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, there are two elementary schools serving grades PK-5 within the Broward school district, presenting a stark contrast in performance and student demographics.
Harbordale Elementary School is the standout school in the area, earning a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the top 20% of Florida elementary schools. With 494 students, it serves a more affluent population (31.58% free/reduced lunch) and demonstrates strong academic proficiency, averaging 72% in English Language Arts and 71% in Math across grades 3-5. Its chronic absenteeism rate is a manageable 23.8%, and it has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 17.8:1. In contrast, Charter School Of Excellence is a struggling school with a 2-star rating, ranking in the bottom 41% of Florida elementary schools. It serves 164 students, with 90.85% qualifying for free/reduced lunch, and faces significant challenges including a critically high chronic absenteeism rate of 46.1% and a higher student-teacher ratio of 23.4:1. Its academic proficiency is notably lower, averaging 51.7% in ELA and 53.3% in Math, with a particularly weak performance in 3rd-grade Math where only 31% of students are proficient.
Despite spending a similar amount per student (approximately $12,000), the outcomes are dramatically different, highlighting that socioeconomic factors and targeted interventions, rather than just funding, drive success. Harbordale is improving, with its state ranking rising from the 77th to the 80th percentile, while Charter School Of Excellence requires intensive support to address its attendance and math instruction challenges. For parents, Harbordale offers a proven track record of excellence, while Charter School Of Excellence may need additional resources to overcome its barriers to learning.
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